Qhbridge 


IN  THE 


(5NTENNIAL 


CAMBRIDGE  IN    THE   "  CENTENNIAL:' 


PROCEEDINGS, 

July  3,   1875, 

IN    CELEBRATION    OF    THE 

Centennial  ^nniterjSarr 

OF 

Washington's  taking  Command 

OF     THE 

Continental   Army, 

On    Cambridge    Common. 


C  A  M  15  R  1  D  G  F. : 

PRINTED   BY   ORDER   OP"  THE  CITY   COUNCIL. 

M  DCCC  LXXV. 


Bv  Order  of  the  City  Council 

AND 

Committee    on    Third    of    July    Celebration, 

BY'     THE 

Clerk    of    Committees. 


Ciwibridfre : 
Press  of  Jolin  Wilson  and  So 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORl 
SANTA  BARBARA 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Cambridge  Common 5 

Washington  Elm 7 

Introductory   9 

Acts  of  Men  of  Cambridge  in  1775 9 

Acts  of  City  of  Cambridge  in  1S75 10 

Committee  of  Arrangements  for  Celebration,  July  3  .     .  12 

Preliminary  Arrangements 13 

Invited  Guests 14 

Form  of  Invitation 16 

The  Decorations 17 

The  Celebration 25 

Remarks  of  Maj'or  Bradford 26 

Poem  of  Prof.  James  Russell  Lowell 27 

Address  of  Andrew  P.  Peabody,  D.D 39 

The  Dinner 63 

Remarks  of  Mayor  Bradford 64 

Response  of  Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell 65 

,,          ,,    Governor  William  Gaston 68 

,,          ,,    Hon.  Josiah  Qiiincy 69 


4  CONTENTS. 

The  DiXNEU   {conii?i7fcd  ).  p^gj. 

Response  of  Gen.  Charles  Devens,Jr 75 

„          „    President  Charles  W.  Eliot 78 

„          „    M.  W.  Grand  Master  Percival  L.  Everett  81 

„          ,,    Dep't  Commander  George  S.  Merrill  .     .  84 

„          „    Rev.  Dr.  A.  P.  Peabody .......  87 

„          „    Prof.  J.  Russell  Lowell 87 

„          „    Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes 88 

,,          ,,    Ex.-Gov.  Emory  Washburn 91 

,,          ,,    Hon.  George  Washington  Wari'en  ...  95 

,,          ,,    Gen.  Edward  W.  Hincks 96 

The  Children's  Entertainment 99 

Members  of  Chorus  and  Soloists 100 

Programme '. loi 

Remarks  of  Rev.  A.  B.  Muzzey loi 

,,          ,,  James  Alexander,  Esq 105 

Poem  of  Rev.  Dr.  William  Newell 107 

• 

The  Evening  Concert 113 

Members  of  Chorus u^ 

Programme ii^ 

City  Government  for  1875 117 

Teachers  in  the  Public  Schools 124 

Chronological  Catalogue 126 

Statistics 127 


CAMBRIDGE  IN  THE  ''CENTENNIAL. 


3>&^0 


"  It  belongs  to  us  with  strong  propriety  to  celebrate  this  day.  The 
town  of  Cambridgre  and  the  county  of  Middlesex  are  filled  with  the  ves- 
tiges of  the  Revolution.  Whithersoever  we  turn  our  eyes,  we  behold 
some  accounts  of  its  glorious  scenes."  —  Edward  Everett. 


CAMBRIDGE    COMMON. 

Cambridge  Common  was  granted  to  the  town  by  the 
"  Proprietors  of  Common  and  Undivided  Lands  in  Cam- 
bridge "  —  a  private  company  —  on  the  20th  of  November, 
1769,  by  the  following  vote  :  — 

Voied^  That  all  the  common  lands  belonging  to  the  proprie- 
tors, fronting  the  college  (commonly  called  the  Town  Commons), 
not  heretofore  granted  or  allotted  to  any  particular  person,  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  granted  to  the  town  of  Cambridge,  to 
be' used  as  a  training-field,  to  lie  undivided,  and  to  remain  for 
that  use  for  ever.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  the  said  town 
shall  dispose  of,  grant,  or  appropriate  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof, 
at  any  time  hereafter,  to  or  for  any  other  use  than  that  before 
mentioned,  then,  and  in  such  case,  the  whole  of  the  premises 
hereby  granted  to  the  said  town  shall  revert  to  the  proprietors 
granting  the  same  ;  and  the  present  grant  shall  be  deemed  null 
and  void,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  if  the  same  had  never 
been  made." 


6  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Besides  being  the  muster-field  where  the  American  army 
of  the  Revolution  had  its  temporary  abiding-place  after  it 
was  called  into  being,  Cambridge  Common  is  consecrated 
by  other  memories.  It  was  the  place  selected  by  the  set- 
tlers of  1630-31  for  their  intrenched  camp.  As  early  as 
1632  a  tax  was  levied  "for  the  construction  of  a  palisado 
about  the  town  for  protection  against  its  enemies,"  and  that 
fortification  ran  along  the  northern  side  of  this  Common. 
Here  the  flag  of  thirteen  stripes  was  first  unfolded  to  the 
breeze.  Here  also,  from  the  greensward,  ascended  the 
smoke  of  a  bonfire,  into  which  was  contemptuously  cast  a 
printed  speech  of  King  George  the  Third,  in  which  that 
misguided  potentate  uttered  sentiments  which  were  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  feelings  and  desires  of  his  "rebellious"  sub- 
jects, who  took  that  means  to  express  their  disgust  at  the 
ill-advised  and  unjust  strictures  of  a  weak  monarch  and  his 
advisers.  Here  the  patriot  army,  little  skilled  in  the  devices 
of  warfare,  badly  equipped,  their  ranks  thinned  by  the  re- 
cent battle  at  Bunker  Hill,  were  encamped,  wanting  in 
almost  every  thing  necessary  for  soldiers  arrayed  against 
a  powerful  monarchy,  except  the  fervor  of  patriotic  resolve 
to  battle  for  the  right  and  become  victorious,  —  the  fresh 
remembrances  of  Concord  and  Lexington  serving  to  spur 
them  on  to  fiiture  noble  deeds.  From  this  camp,  too,  were 
despatched  guards  for  Lechmere  Point,  Prospect  Hill,  Win- 
ter Hill,  and  various  other  points  ;  and  frequent  regimental 
parades  were  here  held  under  the  supervision  of  Generals 
Green,  Sullivan,  and  Heath  ;  and  occasionally  the  whole 
camp  was  made  glad  by  the  presence  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  who  came  from  his  headquarters  near  by,  on  Brat- 
tle Street,  to  mingle  with  his  men,  and  look  after  their 
comfort.  The  whole  number  of  men  at  that  time  en- 
camped in  Cambridge  was  about  eight  thousand  ;  and  their 
devotion  to  the  cause,  and  love  and  respect  for  their  com- 
mander, tended  to  insure  them  success  against  unequal 
odds,  and  win  for  us  the  rights  of  freemen,  which  we  so 
proudly  cherish. 


THE    WASHINGTON    ELM. 


Near  the  westerly  end  of  the  Common  still  stands  the 
superb  wide-spreading  elm  under  whose  shade  Washington 
first  drew  his  sword  as  general-in-chief  of  the  American 
army,  and  known   far  and  wide  as 


THE   WASHINGTON   ELM. 

Apart  from  its  association  with  a  great  event,  there  is 
something  impressive  about  this  elm.  It  is  a  king  among 
trees ;  a  monarch  native  to  the  soil,  whose  subjects,  once 
scattered  over  the  broad  plain  before  it,  have  all  vanished, 
and  left  it  alone  in  solitary  state. 

Tj-adition  says,  that,  when  the  surrounding  forest  was 
felled  by  the  axe  of  the  woodman,  this  tree  had  already 
attained  so  great  a  size  that  it  obtained  a  respectful  immu- 
nity from  the  fate  of  its  neighbors  and  kin.  There  it  stands 
to-day,  in  all  its  majestic  grandeur,  one  hundred  feet  in 
height,  its  trunk  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  its  branches 
spreading  ninety  feet,  the  admiration  of  each  beholder,  and 
daily  visited  by  people  from  near  and  distant  lands,  who 
look  upon  it  as  a  place  and  a  thing  hallowed  by  the  memo- 
ries of  the  past.  Though  portions  of  it  are  somewhat  de- 
cayed, and  the  blasts  of  centuries  have  passed  over  it,  it  is 
still  vigorous  ;  and,  if  loving  care  and  careful  nursing  can 
avail,  it  will  continue  to  live  and  flourish  for  many  future 
generations. 

As  a  shrine  of  the  Revolution,  a  temple  "not  made  wdth 
hands,"  and  the  only  living  witness  of  the  scenes  of  a  hun- 
dred years  ago,  we  trust  the  old  elm  will  long  survive,  a 
sacred   memorial  to  those  who  shall  come  after  us. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


^T^HE  events  subsequent  to  the  5th  of  March,  1770,  when 
-*-  several  citizens  of  the  town  of  Boston  were  massacred 
in  King  (now  State)  Street  by  British  soldiers,  had,  by 
April,  1775,  caused  Boston  to  be  practically  British  ground, 
and  a  safe  abiding-place  for  Tory  refugees ;  while  Cam- 
bridge, for  the  same  reasons,  was  the  advanced  post  of  the 
uprising  American  Republic,  and  the  temporary  abode  of 
many  patriots  active  in  the  cause. 

On  the  night  of  April  i8th,  when  British  troops,  having 
landed  at  Lechmere  Point,  marched  thence  to  Lexington, 
they  were  followed  by  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cam- 
bridge, who  actively  assisted  the  men  of  Lexington  and 
Concord  in  resisting,  and  forcing  a  retreat  of,  their  common 
enemy ;  and  a  monument  in  the  ancient  burial-ground, 
opposite  the  historic  buildings  of  Harvard  College,  bears 
the  names  of — 

John  Hicks, 

William  Marcy, 

Moses  Richardson, 

Buried  here  ; 

Jason  Russell, 

Jabez  Wyman, 

Jason  Winship, 

Buried  in  Menotomy; 

Men  of  Cambridge 

Who  fell  in  Defence  of  the  Liberty  of  the  People, 

April  19,  1775. 

On  the  evening  previous  to  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, 
a  regiment  of  the  Provincial   troops,  under    command    of 


lO  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Colonel  Prescott,  marched  from  Cambridge  Common  to  its 
post  of  duty,  after  a  praj-er  .by  the  venerable  President 
Langdon,  standing  upon  the  step  of  the  building  then  occu- 
pied as  the  head-quarters  of  General  Ward,  and  from  which 
General  Joseph  Warren,  after  a  hasty  attempt  at  repose, 
doubly  called  for  by  the  fatiguing  duties  of  the  entire  night 
as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  President  of 
the  Provincial  Congress,  went  forth  to  his  death.  Upon 
that  fatal  day,  men  of  Cambridge  were  again  found  among 
the  foremost,  doing  their  duty  fearlessly,  and  laying  down 
their  lives  for  the  cause  of  liberty. 

On  the  3d  day  of  July,  George  Washington  of  Virginia, 
having  been  chosen  therefor  by  the  Continental  Congress, 
took  command  of  the  Continental  army  on  Cambridge 
Common. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1776,  "the  representative  of  the 
town  was  instructed,  that,  if  the  Honorable  Congress  should 
for  the  safety  of  the  Colonies  declare  them  independent  of 
the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  Sve,  the  said  inhabitants, 
will  solemnly  engage  with  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  support 
them  in  the  measure.'  This  was  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence made,  in  advance  of  the  general  action,  by  the 
people  of  Cambridge." 

As  the  march  of  time  brought  in  their  turn  the  centennial 
anniversaries  of  the  events  of  1775  above  alluded  to,  the 
city  of  Cambridge,  w^hich,  in  the  war  of  1861-5,  had  given 
ample  evidence  that  the  memory  of  the  men  of  '75  was 
cherished  by  their  descendants  and  successors,  again  took 
an  active  part. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1875,  Cambridge  was  represented 
at  the  Lexington  Centennial  Celebration  by  Hon.  James 
D.  Green  of  Ward  One,  Hon.  John  Sargent  of  Ward 
Two,  Mr.  Samuel  Slocomb  of  Ward  Three,  Mr.  John 
LivERMORE  of  Ward  Four,  and  Mr.  Solomon  S.  Sleeper 
of  Ward  Five,  as  special  delegates,  accompanied  by  the 
Mayor  and  City  Council,  and  an  escort  comprising  the 


INTRODUCTORY.  II 

Boston  Light  Dragcons  (a  large  portion  of  the  members 
being  citizens  of  Cambridge),  the  Fourth  BattaHon  of  In- 
fantry M.  V.  M.  (the  members  of  Company  B,  and  the 
Major  commanding,  being  also  Cambridge  citizens),  and 
Posts  30,  56,  and  57  of  the  Grand  Arm}'  of  the  Republic; 
while  several  members  of  the  City  Council,  Company  K, 
5th  Regiment  M.  V.  M.,  and  many  citizens,  joined  in  the 
celebration  at  Concord. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  Cambridge  was  officially  repre- 
sented by  His  Honor  Mayor  Bradford;  the  military  com- 
panies of  the  city,  and  several  organizations,  including 
representatives  of  the  different  manufactures  and  trades, 
joining  in  the  splendid  parade  in  Boston,  while  many  thou- 
sands of  the  residents  of  Cambridge  were  included  in  the 
immense  throng  of  spectators.  The  Cambridge  City 
Guard  (Co.  K,  5th  Regt.  M.  V.  M.),  having  as  guests  the* 
Norfolk  Light  Artillery  Blues  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  gave  a 
banquet  in  the  evening  at  Porter's  Hotel,  to  which  the  City 
Council  and  many  prominent  citizens  were  invited  for  the 
purpose  of  meeting  and  extending  an  official  welcome  to 
the  visiting  company  and  its  guests,  —  General  Fitz  Hugh 
Lee,  who  commanded  a  division  of  Confederate  cavalry 
during  the  late  war ;  Colonel  Walter  H.  Taylor,  who 
was  Adjutant-General  to  General  Robert  E.  Lee  ;  Colonel 
L.  D.  Stark,  who  commanded  Norfolk  troops ;  Major 
William  E.  Foster,  also  of  the  Confederate  army  ;  and 
representatives  of  the  "  Norfolk  Virginian  "  and  "  Norfolk 
Landmark."  Pledges  of  renewed  fealty  to  the  Union,  and 
hearty  acceptance  of  such  pledges,  were  freely  exchanged  ; 
and  the  Washington  Elm  and  the  memorv  of  Washington 
proved  strong  incentives  to  friendship  between  the  citizens 
of  Cambridge  and  their  visitors  from  Virginia,  lately  so 
widely  separated  by  reason  of  the  attempt  to  destroy  the 
government  which  he  and  his  compeers  had  founded. 

Meanwhile  arrangements  were  being  actively  made  for  a 
proper  observance  of  the  coming  centennial  anniversary  of 


12  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Washington's  taking  command  of  the  Continental  army  on 
Cambridge  Common  on  the  3d  of  July,  1775. 

An  order  having  been  passed  by  the  City  Council,  a 
Joint  Special  Committee  was  appointed  as  follows  :  — 

Of  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermett. 

His  Honor  Isaac  Bradford,  Mayor ; 
William  L.  Whitney,  John  H.  Leighton. 

Of  the  Common  Council. 

George  F.  Piper,  President; 
Frank  A.  Allen,  William  E.  Doyle, 

Hibbard  p.  Ross,  Walter  S.  Swan, 

Jeremiah  Murphy. 

The  following  were  the  principal  Sub-Committees  :  — 

On  Invitations  and  Printing. 
Mayor  Bradford,  Alderman  Whitney,  and  President  Piper. 

Decorations. 
Alderman  Leighton,  Councilmen  Swan  and  Murphy. 

Music. 
Councilmen  Allen  and  Doyle. 

Collation. 
Councilmen  Ross  and  Swan. 

Salutes  and  Illuminations . 
President  Piper  and  Councilman  Doyle. 

Children's  Entertainment. 
Councilmen  Allen  and  Swan. 

The  several  sub-committees  diligently  performed  the  du- 
ties assigned  them  ;  and  the  proffered  suggestions  of  several 
earnest  and  patriotic  citizens  were  as  far  as  possible  incor- 
porated in  the  general  plan. 

The  printers  of  Cambridge,  ever  loyal,  and  other  organi- 
zations, together  with  some  of  the  more  prominent  manu- 
facturers, began  to  make   preparations  for  joining  in   the 


INTRODUCTORY.  1 3 

anticipated  procession  :  but  the  short  time  intervening  be- 
tween the  magnificent  display  in  Boston  and  the  proposed 
celebration  had  the  effect  of  limiting  the  authority  con- 
ferred upon  the  Committee  ;  and  it  was  decided  to  celebrate 
in  a  manner  more  quiet,  but  deemed  equally  appropriate 
for  the  place  and  occasion.  In  lieu  of  a  procession,  it  was 
further  decided  to  have  an  entertainment  especially  for  the 
children  ;  trusting  that  the  exercises  would  fix  firmly  in 
their  minds  the  lessons  of  patriotism,  and  a  love  for  the 
memory  of  the  heroes  of  1775  •  To  that  end,  the  welcome 
offer  of  the  active  services  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Woodward 
was  gladly  accepted;  and  to  his  energetic  efforts,  ably 
seconded  by  Messrs.  Allen  and  Swan  of  the  Committee, 
the  success  of  that  part  of  the  exercises  of  the  day  was 
largely  due. 

At  the  request  of  the  Committee,  Mr.  Francis  L.  Pratt 
organized  an  effective  chorus  of  twenty-four  male  voices 
for  an  evening  concert  on  the  Common,  in  conjunction  with 
Edmands'  Band. 

The  City  Forester,  Mr.  George  Washington  White, 
who  for  years  had  anxiously  cared  for  the  ''  Washington 
Elm,"  placed  the  Common  in  excellent  condition  for  the 
comfort  of  the  expected  multitude  ;  and  a  mammoth  pa- 
vilion, capable  of  seating  four  thousand  people,  was  erected 
almost  under  the  shadow  of  the  venerated  and  historic  tree. 

The  lack  of  a  hall  in  the  immediate  vicinity  suitable  for 
the  enjo3^nient  of  the  dinner,  and  expected  postprandial 
exercises,  caused  the  Committee  to  request  of  the  authori- 
ties of  Harvard  College  as  a  special  favor  the  use  of  the 
splendid  Memorial  Hall,  erected  by  the  alumni  of  the  col- 
lege in  commemoration  of  the  virtues  and  deeds  of  those 
of  her  sons  who  fell  in  the  late  civil  war.  The  following 
cordial  response  to  the  application  was  received :  — 

Harvard  University,  15th  June,  1S75. 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  reply  to  your  request,  on  behalf  of  the  city  of 
Cambridge,  for  the  use  of  Memorial  Hall  for  a  public  dinner  on 
the  3d  of  July  next,  I  have  the  honor  to  say  that  it  will  give  the 


14  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

President  and  Fellows  of  Harvard  College  great  pleasure  to  have 
the  hall  used  by  the  city  on  that  day.  They  are  glad  that  a  hall 
built  to  commemorate  the  virtues  of  the  sons  should  be  used  to 
celebrate  the  brave  deeds  of  the  fathers. 

I  am,  with  much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

Charles  W.  Eliot,  President. 

Invitations  were  extended  to  the  following  Federal  and 
State  officials,  representatives  of  various  organizations,  and 
distinguished  citizens ;  nearly  all  of  whom  were  present. 
A  few  sent  notes  expressing  their  appreciation  of  the  obser- 
vance of  the  day,  but  regretting  their  detention  by  reason 
of  illness  or  imperative  engagement. 

INVITED   GUESTS. 

Hon.  Henry  Wilson  ....  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 
„  George  S.  Boutwell  .  U.  S.  Senator  from  Massachusetts. 
,,  Henry  L.  Dawes  .  .  . 
Maj.-Gen.  Nathaniel  P.  Banks 
Hon.  E.  RocKWOOD  Hoar  .  . 
„  John  M.  S.  Williams  .  . 
,,      Wm.  Wirt  Warren     .     .  ,,  Representative  elect  from  Mass. 

Rear-Admiral  Charles  H.  Davis United-States  N'avy. 

His  Excellency  Wm.  Gaston.     .  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  Staff. 
Horace  Gray,  Esq.     .   Chief  fustice  Sup.  fud.  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
President  Charles  W.  Eliot,  and  Fellows  of  Harvard  College. 
Percival  L.  Everett,  Esq.   .  M.  W.  Grand  Master  of  Grand  Lodge  of 

F.  and  A.  M.  of  Mass.,  and  Suite. 
Admiral  Henry  Knox  Thatcher   .     President  of  the  Mass.  Society  of 

the  Order  of  the  Cincifinati. 
Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder  .  President  of  A\  E.  Historic-Genealogical 

Society. 
,,     George  Washington  Warren  .     .     President  of  Bu?iker-Hill- 

Monument  Association. 
Maj.-Gen.  Charles  Devens,  Jr.  .  ex-Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Grand 

Army  of  the  Republic. 
Maj.  George  S.  Merrill.  Cofnmander  of  Department  of  Massachusetts 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Hon.  Charles  Francis  Adams Boston. 

„     Josiah  Quincy „ 

„      Charles   Hudson Lexington,  Mass. 

„      Richard  Frothingham      .     .     .      Boston,  Charlestown  District 


Representative  fro7n  Mass. 


INTRODUCTORY.  1 5 

Ex-Gov.  Emory  Washburn Cambridge. 

Prof.   Henry  W.  Longfellow „ 

„     Benjamin  Pierce „ 

Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes Boston. 

Rev.  Dr.  Lucius  R.  Paige Cafiibridge. 

„       William  Newell „ 

„        Frederic  H.  Hedge „ 

Rev.  Alexander  McKenzie „ 

Hon.  EsTES  Howe „ 

„     John  G.  Palfrey ,, 

Henry  B.  Rogers,  Esq Boston. 

James  Alexander,    ,, Charlotteville.,  Virginia. 

WiNSLOw  Warren,    ,, Boston. 

John  Owen,  Esq Cambridge. 

Hon.  William  A.Simmons Collector  of  Port  of  Boston. 

William  L.  Burt,  Esq Posi?naster  of  Boston  District. 

Hon.  Samuel  C.  Cobb Mayor  of  Boston. 

„     William  H.  Furber Mayor  of  Somerville. 

„     J.  F.  C.  Hyde ,     .     „        „       Newton. 

Selectmen  of  Town  of  Lexington. 
„  „  „    Concord. 

„  „  „    Arlington. 

Chairman  of  Selectmen  of  Watertown. 
„  „  „  „    Belmont. 

Brig.-Gen.  Edward  W.  Hincks Milwaukee,  Wis. 

„  Charles  F.  Walcott Cambridge. 

„  Samuel  E.  Chamberlain    .     Boston,  Charlestown  District. 

Capt.  George  A.  Keeler Co.  K,  sth  Regt.  M.  V.  M. 

„      Levi  Hawkes Co.  B,  4t/i  Batt.  M.  V.  M. 

Commander  William  P.  Livesey     .    Post  30,  DepH  of  Mass.  G.  A.  R. 
„  William  W.  Webb  .     .     .  „     56,  „        „  „ 

„  Alphonso  M.  Lunt  .     .     .  „     57,  „        „  „ 

Hon.  Ezra  Parmenter  .  .  Senator  from  Third  Middlesex  District. 
Levi  L.  Gushing  .  .  .  Representative  from  Seventh  Mid.  Rep.  Dist. 
Daniel  H.  Thurston      .    .    .      „  „    Eighth        „  „ 

Edward  Kendall 
Austin  C.  Wellington 
J.  W.  Coveney     .    .    . 
Charles  Kimball  .    . 
Hon.  John  S.  Ladd 


„     Ninth  „  „ 

Sheriff  of  Middlesex  County. 
Justice  of  Police  Cotcrt  of  Cambridge. 


Ex-Mayors  of  the  City  of  Cambridge. 
Ex-Presidents  of  the  Common  Council  of  Cambridge. 


[Form  of  Invitation.] 


Cttj  of  Camiritige- 


/le     Meaiuie     o/   wai     co7?i/ia7in    (k     leauedfea     on 

o/    /fa6mnaic?i  if  aiisti7?itna  coon'mana  o/  me  Q^Tneiican 
&ci'm/u    C7t    ^Wa'?}mUaoe    ^Wownion. 

ISAAC  BRADFORD,  Mayor, 

For  Committee  of  Arratigements. 


Guests  -will  report  at  Lycetcin  Hall,  Cainhridge,  at  ii   o'clock,  A.  M., 
presenting  this  invitation  at  the  door. 

^S"  Please  reply  at  your  earliest  convenience. 


THE      DECORATIONS. 


Suitable  inscriptions  were  placed  by  the  committee  at 
the  following  points  of  historic  interest  in  the  city,  for  the 
information  of  visitors,  and  to  freshen  the  recollections  of 
citizens  generally.     At 

THE    WASHINGTON    ELM, 

the  decorations  naturally  attracted  great  attention.  A  staft' 
had  been  fixed  in  the  centre  of  the  tree,  from  which,  high 
above  the  tallest  branches,  floated  the  American  flag. 
Smaller  flags  were  fastened  upon  all  the  larger  projecting 
limbs  of  the  tree,  and  extended  beyond  it  on  all  sides, 
covering  it  with  a  perfect  glory  of  stars  and  stripes.  On 
the  stone  at  its  base,  which  commemorates  Washington's 
assumption  of  command,  was  placed  a  life-size  figure- 
painting  of  General  Washington  on  horseback.  A  little  in 
front  of  the  elm,  and  so  erected  that  the  stone  and  painting 
were  seen  through  it  in  perspective,  was  a  decorated  arch, 
under  which  the  procession  passed  on  the  way  from  Lyceum 
Hall  to  the  tent.  The  upper  portion  of  the  arch  was  in- 
scribed "Birthplace  of  the  American  Army,"  and  on  the 
pillars  were  the  dates  "1775"  and  "1875." 

CHRIST    CHURCH. 

Cln-ist  Church  was  decorated  with  flags  drooping  over 
the   door   and   from   the   window   in   the  tower.     From  the 


I  8  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

window  also  projected  several  flags,  as  well  as  from  the 
corners  of  the  tower  and  church.  On  the  centre  of  the 
front  was  a  round  shield  bearing  this  inscription  :  "  Christ 
Church;  erected  a.d.  1780.  Captain  Chester's  Co.,  from 
Wethersfield,  Conn.,  was  quartered  here  during  the  siege 
of  Boston  in  1775-6.  Reoccupied  as  a  house  of  prayer 
by  order  of  General  Washington,  who  worshipped  here  on 
Sunday,  Dec.  31,  1775,  and,  it  is  believed,  on  subsequent 
occasions." 

REVOLUTIONARY    SOLDIERS'    MONUMENT. 

The  monument  in  the  Old  Burial  Ground  erected  to  the 
Cambridge  men  who  fell  at  Lexington  was  beautifully 
trimmed.  It  was  surmounted  by  an  arch,  from  which  hung 
a  flag  forming  a  background  to  the  monument  itself.  On 
the  crown  of  the  arch  was  the  motto,  "  The  Blood  of  the 
Patriots  is  the  Seed  of  Liberty."  On  the  pillars  of  the 
arch  were  the  names  of  the  soldiers,  —  Hicks,  Marcy, 
Richardson,  Russell,  Wyman,  and  Winship. 

THE    COMMON. 

The  Soldiers'  Monument  on  the  Common  was  decorated 
with  small  flags.  Around  it,  mounted,  pointed  in  different 
directions,  were  the  three  cannon  recently  given  the  city  by 
the  State.  They  are  very  old  pieces  of  ordnance  ;  one  hav- 
ing been  captured  from  the  French  at  the  taking  of  Louis- 
burg  in  1756,  and  transferred  to  Crown  Point,  and  then, 
with  the  others,  taken  from  Crown  Point  by  General  Ethan 
Allen,  "in  the  name  of  the  Continental  Congress,"  in  i775? 
and  transferred  for  use  at  the  siege  of  Boston. 

KIRKLAND     STREET. 

At  the  junction  of  Kirkland  Street  with  North  Avenue 
was  a  placard  stating  that  to  be  "The  road  to  Bunker  Hill, 
down  which  the  troops  marched  under  Colonel  Prescott,  on 
the  evening  of  June  16,  1775,  after  prayer  on  the  Common 
by  President  Langdon." 


THE    DECORATIONS.  1 9 

Washington's  headquarters. 

The  poet  Longfellow's  house,  on  Brattle  Street,  was 
marked  by  the  inscription,  "  Headquarters  of  Washington  ; 
occupied  by  him  from  July  12,  1775,  to  March,  1776. 
Built  and  owned  at  the  time  by  John  Vassal,  a  refugee 
and  Tory." 

THE    WADSWORTH    HOUSE. 

The  Wads  worth  House,  in  the  college-grounds  facing 
Harvard  Street,  was  inscribed,  "  Wadsworth  House:  first 
headquarters  of  Washington  and  Lee,  July  2,  1775.  Offi- 
cers' quarters  during  the  siege  of  Boston,   1775-6." 

THE    HOLMES    HOUSE. 

The  house  in  Holmes  Place,  off  North  Avenue,  near  the 
Common,  was  inscribed,  "Holmes  House.  Headquarters 
of  General  Ward.  Here  was  held  the  council  of  war  which 
ordered  the  fortification  of  Bunker  Hill." 

THE    OLIVER    HOUSE. 

The  house  of  James  Russell  Lowell,  on  Elmwood 
Avenue,  bore  the  inscription,  "  Built  by  Andrew  Oliver, 
stamp-commissioner  and  lieutenant-governor  ;  a  refugee. 
Occupied  as  a  hospital  after  Bunker  Hill.  In  the  field  in 
front  many  soldiers  were  buried.  Afterward  the  residence 
of  Elbridge  Gerry,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence, Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States." 

THE    FAYERWEATHER    HOUSE. 

The  ancient  house  on  Brattle  Street,  at  the  corner  of 
Fayerweather,  was  inscribed,  "  Faj^erweather  House  ;  used 
as  a  hospital,  1775." 

THE    LEE    MANSION. 

The  house  at  the  corner  of  Brattle  and  Appleton  Streets 
was  marked  as  being  the  oldest  building  in  Cambridge. 
It  was  the  residence  of  Judge  Joseph  Lee,  a  royalist,  in 
1775,  and  is  believed  to  have  been  erected  before  the  days 
of  Ciiarles  the  Second. 


20  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

THE    LECHMERE    HOUSE. 

The  old  mansion  on  the  corner  of  Brattle  and  Sparks 
Streets  had  the  inscription,  "  Lechmere  House.  Baroness 
de  Riedesel,  taken  prisoner  with  her  husband  at  Saratoga, 
was  lodged  here." 

THE    BELCHER    HOUSE. 

The  house  on  the  corner  of  Brattle  and  Ash  Streets,  a 
structure  of  great  antiquity,  was  marked  by  an  inscription, 
stating  that  it  was  "  Built  during  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne  ;  probably  by  the  father  of  Governor  Belcher,  who 
sold  it  in  1719.  It  was  occupied  in  1775  by  Benjamin 
Church,  M.D.,  Surgeon-General  of  the  Provincial  Army."' 

THE    BRATTLE    HOUSE. 

The  house  on  Brattle  Street,  just  west  of  the  University 
Press,  bore  the  inscription,  "Brattle  House:  residence  of 
Thomas  Brattle,  Esq.     Headquarters  of  General  Mifflin." 

THE    APTHORP    HOUSE. 

The  house  on  Harvard  Street,  near  Plympton  Street,  had 
the  inscription,  "Built  by  East  Apthorp.  Called  the 
'  Bishop's  Palace.'  Occupied  by  General  Burgoyne  while 
a  prisoner." 

BRADISh's    TAVERN. 

An  ancient  building  on  Brighton  Street,  between  Har- 
vard Square  and  Mount-Auburn  Street,  was  marked  "  Brad- 
ish's  Tavern.  Officers  of  Burg03ne's  army  were  quartered 
here." 

SITE    OF    THE    IXMAN    HOUSE. 

The  site  of  the  In  man  House,  on  Inman  Street,  near 
Main,  was  inscribed,  "  Site  of  Inman  House  :  Headquarters 
of  General  Putnam,  commanding  centre  of  American 
Army,  July,   1775." 

The  college  authorities  had  also  appropriately  called 
attention  to  the   Revolutionary  record  of — 


THE    DECORATIONS.  21 

HARVARD    COLLEGE. 

Over  the  main  entrance  to  the  college-grounds,  opposite 

Church  Street,  was  erected   an   arch   draped  with  colored 

bunting,    and    crowned    by    a    shield    bearing   the    motto, 

"Veritas."     Across  the  top  of  the  arch  was  the  verse  from 

Lowell :  — 

'•  Life  of  whate'er  makes  life  worth  living, 
One  heavenly  thing  whereof  earth  has  the  giving." 

On  the  left  pillar  of  the  arch  was  the  inscription,  "Pro- 
mote, then,  as  an  object  of  primary  importance,  institutions 
for  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge.  In  proportion  as 
a  structure  of  a  government  gives  force  to  public  opinion, 
it  is  essential  that  public  opinion  should  be  enlightened.  — 
Washington 's  Farewell  Address."" 

On  the  opposite  pillar  was  the  following  :  "  Harvard  Col- 
lege,'—  'The  Nest  of  Sedition.'  General  Gage,  1775. 
Hatched  in  this  nest  were  James  Otis,  Joseph  Warren, 
John  Hancock,  Josiah  Quincy,  Samuel  Adams,  Artemas 
Ward,  Timothy  Pickering,  and  William  Eustis." 

Other  buildings  of  the  college  —  Holden  Chapel,  built  in 
1744;  Hollis  Hall,  built  in  1763;  Harvard  Hall,  built  in 
1764;  and  Massachusetts  Hall,  built  in  1720  —  bore  in- 
scriptions stating  the  date  of  their  erection,  and  the  fact 
that  they  were  occupied  by  Provincial  troops  during  the 
siege  of  Boston,  1775-6. 

Dane  Hall,  the  Law  School,  was  inscribed,  "Site  of 
Old  Church,  where  the  first  and  second  Provincial  Con- 
gresses were  held,  presided  over  by  John  Hancock  and 
Joseph  Warren.  General  Washington  worshipped  in  this 
church  in   1775." 

THE    CITY    HALL. 

The  City  Hall  was  the  most  elaborately  decorated  of 
any  building  in  the  city.  A  large  painting,  emblematical 
of  the  victory  of  freedom  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  hung 
over  the  front.  On  either  side  of  the  painting  were  the 
dates  "1775"  and  "1875;"   and  at  the  bottom   the  motto, 


22  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

"Liberty  and  Union,  Now  and  Forever,  One  and  Insepara- 
ble." An  eagle  on  the  centre  of  the  roof  held  in  his  beak 
streamers  of  bunting,  which  draped  the  cornice  to  the  cor- 
ners. The  painting  was  also  draped,  and  the  bunting  so 
arranged  as  to  form  an  immense  shield  covering  nearly  the 
whole  front  of  the  building,  with  the  painting  in  the  centre. 
From  the  flagstaff  on  the  centre  of  the  roof  a  "  glory "  of 
variously  colored  bunting  depended  to  the  cornice. 

LYCEUM    HALL. 

Lyceum  Hall,  the  headquarters  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  was  profusely  trimhied.  Festoons  of  bunt- 
ing depended  from  the  apex  of  the  roof  to  the  corners  of  the 
first  story.  On  the  front  was  a  painting  of  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty  with  drawn  sword,  holding  the  stars  and  stripes, 
which  was  draped  with  flags  hung  from  the  story  above. 
On  the  left  side  of  the  entrance  was  the  motto,  "  Liberty,  — 
generations  past  and  generations  to  come  hold  us  respon- 
sible for  this  sacred  trust."  On  the  right  side  was  the  in- 
scription, "  Warren,  Hancock,  Adams,  Prescott.  We  would 
recall  the  forms  and  lineaments  of  the  honored  dead." 

THE    SITE    OF    FORT    PUTNAM, 

On  the  corner  of  Otis  and  Fourth  Streets,  was  marked 
by  a  flag  hung  across  Otis  Street  from  the  Putnam  School- 
house,  with  the  inscription,  "Site  of  Fort  Putnam." 

FORT    WASHINGTON, 

Near  the  foot  of  Brookline  street,  was  also  appropriately 
marked,  and  the  way  to  it  pointed  out;  while  from  its  tall 
flag-staff  floated  the  largest  flag  in  the  city.  The  well-kept 
embankment,  substantial  iron  fence,  and  the  three  cannon 
mounted  in  the  embrasures  as  of  yore,  attracted  much 
attention. 

UNION-RAILWAY    OFFICES. 

The  offices  of  the  Union  Railway  were  elaborately 
decorated.  The  roof  was  surmounted  by  a  gilt  eagle  hold- 
ing festoons  of  bunting  in  his  beak,  which  drooped  to  either 


THE    DECORATIONS.  23 

corner  of  the  roof.  From  the  centre  also  fell  festoons  of 
flags  to  the  corners  of  the  building  on  the  first  floor.  Pen- 
nants depended  from  the  roof  in  four  places,  and  small 
flags  projected  over  the  street.  On  the  front  of  one  building 
was  a  shield  with  the  national  arms  and  motto.  Under 
that  was  the  inscription,  "  Mansion  House  of  Zachariah 
Boardman,  1775  ;  Tavern  of  Major  John  Brown,  1781." 
On  the  front  of  the  other  building  was  the  name  "  Wash- 
ington." 

Flags  were  also  freely  displayed  on  many  private  resi- 
dences in  various  parts  of  the  city,  and  on  all  the  public 
buildings  and  staffs. 

A  few  of  the  citizens  also  displayed  inscriptions  or  other 
decorations ;  but  the  lack  of  a  procession  with  an  extended 
route ^^r evented  such  action  being  general. 


NOTE. 

The  "  Cambridge  Chronicle  "  of  July  3d  contained  a  lengthy  illustrated 
article,  entitled  "  Points  of  Interest,"  giving  a  detailed  description  of  the 
houses  and  places  already  mentioned  as  having  been  designated  by 
inscriptions  on  that  day,  and  many  histoi-ical  facts  connected  therewith ; 
and  also  of  many  others  necessarily  omitted  here,  as  not  being  directly 
connected  with  the  event  celebrated.     But  it  is  worthy  of  record,  that 

"  The  city  of  Cambridge  to-day  contains  many  monuments  of  the  olden 
time,  —  many  residences,  lacking,  perhaps,  the  beauty  of  their  youth,  but 
rich  in  historical  reminiscence.  .  .  .  Several  of  the  best  known  and  best 
preserved  are  situated  on  Brattle  Street,  partially  hidden  from  each  other 
by  the  sinuosities  of  that  ancient  roadway,  caused  by  an  avoidance  of 
the  marshes  then  existing.  But  these  houses  were,  with  scarcely  an 
exception,  the  homesteads  of  a  band  of  royalists,  connected  by  marriage, 
or  direct  descent,  from  Governor  Spencer  Phips.  These  several  man- 
sions constituted  what  was  then  called  '  Church  Row,'  but  afterwards 
'  Tory  Row.'  The  owners  were  all  men  of  education  and  fortune,  and 
prominent  attendants,  several  of  them  wardens,  of  Christ  Church.  .  .  . 
Between  Arrow  and  Mount-Auburn  Streets  was  the  estate  of  David 
Phips,  Sheriff  of  Middlesex,  colonel  of  the  governor's  troop,  and  son  of 
Governor  Spencer  Phips.      A  prominent  royalist,  his  house,  some  time  a 


24  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

hospital,  was  afterwards  the  residence  of  Wilham  Winthrop,  and  is  now 
in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  The  estate  is  more  interesting  to  the  anti- 
quary as  being  that  of  Daniel  Gookin,  Indian  superintendent  in  the  time 
of  Eliot,  and  one  of  the  licensers  of  the  printing-press  in  1662.  It  was 
under  Gookin's  roof,  and  perhaps  on  this  very  spot,  that  Generals  Goffe 
and  Whalley  were  sheltered  until  the  news  of  the  Restoration,  and  Act  of 
Indemnity,  caused  them  to  seek  another  asylum. 

''  In  the  vicinity  of  North  Avenue  still  remain  many  old  residences, 
witnesses  of  the  scenes  of  April  19th,  June  17th,  and  July  3d;  but  Cam- 
bridge is  so  full  of  such  places  of  interest,  that  these,  having  more  intimate 
connection  with  the  first-named  dates,  can  receive  but  this  passing  notice. 
The  joyous  notes  of  this  Centennial  will  resound  as  loudly  within  their 
walls  as  within  those  of  their  more  lordly  neighbors.  From  out  their  less 
pretentious  entrances  came,  in  the  days  that  tried  men's  souls,  their  full 
proportion  of  patriots,  to  make  good  the  vacancies  caused  by  the  defection 
of  the  royalists  of  Tory  Row  ;  but  from  many  of  both  classes  in  the 
latter-day  struggles,  when  the  deeds  of  1775  were  to  be  repeated,  so  far 
as  was  necessary  to  maintain  the  life  of  the  nation  then  born  and  baptized 
in  blood,  came  forth  men  true  to  the  memories  of  their  fathers  and  the 
record  of  Cambridge  of  1775." 


THE     CELEBRATION. 


The  day  opened  bright  and  clear,  ushered  in  by  a  sun- 
rise salute  of  thirteen  guns  on  the  Common  by  a  section  of 
Battery  A,  First  Battalion  Light  Artiller}^  and  the  ringing 
of  bells  throughout  the  city. 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock,  ladies,  and  gentlemen  accom- 
panying, were  admitted  to  the  tent,  and  soon  began  to 
test  its  capacity. 

At  half-past  eleven  o'clock,  the  City  Government  and 
invited  guests,  having  assembled  at  Lyceum  Hall,  formed 
a  procession,  and  marched  to  the  tent,  in  the  following 
order :  — 

Chief  of  Police  and  Aides. 

Edmands'  Band. 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Orator,  Poet,  and  Chaplains. 

City  Messenger. 

Mayor  and  President  of  the  Common  Council. 

Board  of  Aldermen. 

Common  Council. 

Invited  Guests,  in  the  order  previously  stated. 

Members  of  the  School  Committee. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

Board  of  Assessors. 
Heads  of  Departments. 

Water  Board. 

Cemetery  Commissioners. 

Commissioners  of  Sinking  Fund. 

Trustees  of  other  Funds. 
Engineers  of  the  Fire  Department. 

4 


26  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

At  twelve  o'clock,  the  procession  having  reached  the  tent, 
and  its  members  being  seated  on  the  spacious  platform 
erected  therefor,  the  Mayor  called  the  large  audience  to 
attention,  and  the  exercises  were  begun  with  prayer  by 
Rev.  David  O.  Mears.  After  music  by  the  band,  Mayor 
Bradford  spoke  as  follows:  — 

This  day  is  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  a  day  memorable 
alike  in  the  annals  of  Cambridge  and  of  the  conntry  ;  for  it  was 
on  the  third  day  of  July,  1775,  that  General  Washington,  —  then 
recently  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Army, — 
having  arrived  in  Cambridge  from  Philadelphia,  here  upon  this 
hallowed  ground,  beneath  this  ancient  elm-tree,  unsheathed  his 
sword,  and  assumed  command,  —  a  command  which  was  to  con- 
tinue till  the  time  of  final  victory. 

To  fittingly  commemoi-ate  this  event,  so  full  of  patriotic  inspira- 
tion, we  are  assembled  :  and,  as  we  listen  to  the  words  of  our  cho- 
sen orator  and  poet,  we  shall  have  renewed  within  us  a  sense  of 
our  large  indebtedness  to  that  lofty  heroism,  that  self-sacrificing 
devotion  to  liberty,  which  accomplished  an  independent  nation, 
and  bequeathed  to  us  for  an  inheritance  tliat  most  precious  of 
gifts,  —  a  free  republican  government. 

It  is  the  name  of  Washington  we  reverence  ;  and  proud  we  are, 
among  the  many  glorious  memories  of  the  past,  of  the  association 
of  his  name  with  Cambridge. 

I  have  the  honor  of  introducing  to  you  the  poet  of  the  day, 
Professor  James  Russell  Lowell. 


POEM 


JAMES      RUSSELL      LOWELL. 


L 


Words  pass  as  wind,  but  where  great  deeds  were  done 

A  power  abides  transfused  from  sire  to  son  : 

The  boy  feels  deeper  meanings  thrill  his  ear, 

That  tingling  through  his  pulse  life-long  shall  run. 

With  sure  impulsion  to  keep  honor  clear. 

When,  pointing  down,  his  father  whispers,  "  Here, 

Here,  where  we  stand,  stood  he,  the  purely  Great, 

Whose  soul  no  siren  passion  could  unspherc, 

Then  natneless,  now  a  power  and  mixed  with  fate." 

Historic  town,  thou  boldest  sacred  dust. 

Once  known  to  men  as  pious,  learned,  just. 

And  one  memorial  pile  that  dares  to  last ; 

But  Memory  greets  with  reverential  kiss 

No  spot  in  all  thy  circuit  sweet  as  this. 

Touched  by  that  modest  glory  as  it  past. 

O'er  which  yon  elm  hath  piously  displayed 

These  hundred  years  its  monumental  shade. 


Of  our  swift  passage  through  this  scenery 
Of  life  and  death,  more  durable  than  we, 
What  landmai'k  so  congenial  as  a  tree 
Repeating  its  green  legend  every  spring, 
And,  with  a  yearly  ring. 
Recording  the  fair  seasons  as  they  flee. 
Type  of  our  brief  but  still-renewed  mortality? 


28  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

We  f;ill  as  leaves :  the  immortal  trunk  remains, 
Builded  with  costly  juice  of  hearts  and  brains 
Gone  to  the  mould  now,  whither  all  that  be 
Vanish  returnless,  yet  are  procreant  still 
In  human  lives  to  come  of  good  or  ill, 
And  feed  unseen  the  roots  of  Destiny. 


II. 


I. 

Men's  monuments,  grown  old,  forget  their  names 

They  should  eternize,  but  the  place 

Where  shining  souls  have  passed  imbibes  a  grace 

Beyond  mere  earth  ;  some  sweetness  of  their  fames 

Leaves  in  the  soil  its  unextinguished  trace, 

Pungent,  pathetic,  sad  with  nobler  aims, 

That  peneti"ates  our  lives  and  heightens  them  or  shames. 

This  unsubstantial  world  and  fleet 

Seems  solid  for  a  moment  when  we  stand 

On  dust  ennobled  by  heroic  feet 

Once  mighty  to  sustain  a  tottering  land, 

And  mighty  still  such  burthen  to  upbear, 

Nor  doomed  to  tread  the  path  of  things  that  merely  were 

Our  sense,  refined  with  virtue  of  the  spot. 

Across  the  mists  of  Lethe's  sleepy  stream 

Recalls  him,  the  sole  chief  without  a  blot. 

No  moi'e  a  pallid  image  and  a  di"eam, 

But  as  he  dwelt  with  men  decorously  supreme. 

2. 

Our  grosser  minds  need  this  terrestrial  hint 

To  raise  long-buried  days  from  tombs  of  print : 

"  Here  stood  he,"  softly  we  repeat, 

And  lo,  the  statue  shrined  and  still 

In  that  gray  minster-front  we  call  the  Past, 

Feels  in  its  frozen  veins  our  pulses  thrill, 

Breathes  living  air  and  mocks  at  Death's  deceit. 

It  warms,  it  stirs,  comes  down  to  us  at  last. 

Its  features  human  with  familiar  light, 

A  man,  beyond  the  historian's  art  to  kill. 

Or  sculptor's  to  efface  with  patient  chisel-blight. 


POEM    BY   JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL.  29 

3- 
Sure  the  dumb  earth  hath  memory,  nor  for  nought 
Was  Fancy  given,  on  whose  enchanted  loom* 
Present  and  Past  commingle,  fruit  and  bloom 
Of  one  fair  bough,  inseparably  wrought 
Into  the  seamless  tapeslry  of  thought. 
So  charmed,  with  undeluded  eye  we  see 
In  history's  fragmentary  tale 
Bright  clews  of  continuity, 
Learn  that  high  natures  over  Time  prevail. 
And  feel  ourselves  a  link  in  that  entail 
That  binds  all  ages  past  with  all  that  are  to  be. 


III. 


Beneath  our  consecrated  elm 

A  century  ago  he  stood, 

Famed  vaguely  for  that  old  fight  in  the  wood 

Whose  I'ed  surge  sought,  but  could  not  overwhelm 

The  life  foredoomed  to  wield  our  rough-hewn  helm 

From  colleges,  where  now  the  gown 

To  arms  had  yielded,  from  the  town. 

Our  rude  self-summoned  levies  flocked  to  see 

The  new-come  chiefs  and  wonder  which  was  he. 

No  need  to  question  long ;  close-lipped  and  tall, 

Long  trained  in  murder-brooding  forests  lone 

To  bridle  others'  clamors  and  his  own. 

Firmly  erect,  he  towered  above  them  all, 

The  incarnate  discipline  that  was  to  free 

With  iron  curb  that  armed  democracy. 


A  motley  rout  was  that  which  came  to  stare, 
In  raiment  tanned  by  years  of  sun  and  storm, 
Of  every  shape  that  was  not  uniform. 
Dotted  with  regimentals  here  and  there  ; 
An  army  all  of  captains,  used  to  pray 
And  stiff' in  fight,  but  serious  drill's  despair, 
Skilled  to  debate  their  orders,  not  obey  ; 
Deacons  were  there,  selectmen,  men  of  note 


30  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

In  half-tamed  hamlets  ambushed  round  with  woods, 
Ready  to  settle  Fi-eewill  by  a  vote, 
But  largely  liberal  to  its  private  moods  ; 
Prompt  to  assert  by  manners,  voice,  or  pen, 
Or  ruder  arms,  their  rights  as  Englishmen, 
Nor  much  fastidious  as  to  how  and  when  : 
Yet  seasoned  stuff  and  fittest  to  create 
A  thought-staid  army  or  a  lasting  State : 
.  Haughty  they  said  he  was,  at  first,  severe, 
But  owned,  as  all  men  own,  the  steady  hand 
Upon  the  bridle,  patient  to  command. 
Prized,  as  all  prize,  the  justice  pure  from  fear. 
And  learned  to  honor  first,  then  love  him,  then  revere: 
Such  power  there  is  in  clear-eyed  self-restraint 
And  purpose  clean  as  light  from  every  selfish  taint. 

3- 

Musing  beneath  the  legendary  tree, 

The  years  between  furl  ofl^  I  seem  to  see 

The  sun-flecks,  shaken  the  stirred  foliage  through, 

Dapple  with  gold  his  sober  buflfand  blue 

And  weave  prophetic  aureoles  round  the  head 

That  shines  our  beacon  now  nor  darkens  with  the  dead. 

O,  man  of  silent  mood, 

A  stranger  among  strangers  then, 

How  art  thou  since  renowned  the  Great,  the  Good, 

Familiar  as  the  day  in  all  the  homes  of  men  ! 

The  winged  years,  that  winnow  praise  and  blame, 

Blow  many  names  out:  they  but  fan  to  flame 

The  self-renewing  splendors  of  thy  fame. 


IV. 


How  many  subtlest  influences  unite. 

With  spiritual  touch  of  joy  or  pain, 

Invisible  as  air  and  soft  as  light. 

To  body  forth  that  image  of  the  brain 

We  call  our  Country,  visionary  shape, 

Loved  more  than  woman,  fuller  of  fire  than  w^ine, 

Whose  charm  can  none  define, 


POEM    BY   JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL.  3 1 

Nor  any,  though  he  flee  it,  can  escape  ! 

All  pai"ty-colored  threads  the  weaver  Time 

Sets  in  his  web,  now  trivial,  now  sublime. 

All  memories,  all  forebodings,  hopes  and  fears. 

Mountain  and  river,  forest,  prairie,  sea, 

A  hill,  a  rock,  a  homestead,  field,  or  tree, 

The  casual  gleanings  of  unreckoned  yeai's. 

Take  goddess-shape  at  last  and  there  is  She, 

Old  at  our  birth,  new  as  the  springing  hours. 

Shrine  of  our  weakness,  fortress  of  our  powers, 

Consoler,  kindler,  peerless  'mid  her  peers, 

A  force  that  'neath  our  conscious  being  stirs, 

A  life  to  give  ours  permanence,  when  we 

Are  born  to  mingle  our  poor  earth  with  hers. 

And  all  this  glowing  world  goes  with  us  on  our  biers.. 


Nations  are  long  results,  by  ruder  ways 

Gathering  the  might  that  warrants  length  of  days  ; 

They  may  be  pieced  of  half-reluctant  shares 

Welded  by  hammer-strokes  of  broad-brained  kings, 

Or  from  a  doughty  people  grow,  the  heirs 

Of  wise  traditions  widening  cautious  rings  ; 

At  best  they  are  computable  things, 

A  strength  behind  us  making  us  feel  bold 

In  right,  or,  as  may  chance,  in  wrong ; 

Whose  force  by  figures  may  be  summed  and  told. 

So  many  soldiers,  ships,  and  dollars  strong. 

And  we  but  drops  that  bear  compulsory  part 

In  the  dumb  throb  of  a  mechanic  heart ; 

But  Country  is  a  shape  of  each  man's  mind 

Sacred  fvom  disenchantment,  unconfined 

By  the  cramped  walls  where  daily  drudgeries  grind, 

An  inward  vision,  yet  an  outward  birth 

Of  sweet  familiar  heaven  and  earth, 

A  brooding  Presence  that  stirs  motions  blind 

Of  wings  within  our  Self's  beleaguering  shell 

That  wait  but  her  completer  spell 

To  make  us  caglc-natured,  fit  to  dare 

Life's  nobler  spaces  and  untarnished  air. 


32  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

3- 

You,  who  hold  dear  this  self-conceived  ideal, 
Whose  faith  and  works  alone  can  make  it  real, 
Bring  all  your  fairest  gifts  to  deck  her  shrine 
Who  lifts  our  lives  away  from  Thine  and  Mine 
And  feeds  the  lamp  of  manhood  more  divine 
With  fragrant  oils  of  quenchless  constancy. 
When  all  have  done  their  utmost,  surely  he 
Hath  given  the  best  who  gives  a  character 
Erect  and  constant,  which  nor  any  shock 
Of  loosened  elements,  nor  the  forceful  sea 
Of  flowing  or  of  ebbing  fates,  can  stir 
From  its  deep  bases  in  the  living  rock 
Of  ancient  manhood's  sweet  security  : 
And  this  he  gave,  serenely  far  from  pride 
As  baseness,  boon  with  prosperous  stars  allied. 
Part  of  what  nobler  seed  shall  in  our  loins  abide. 

4- 

No  bond  of  men  so  strong  as  common  pride 

In  names  sublimed  by  deeds  that  have  not  died, 

Still  operant,  with  the  primal  Force  allied  ; 

These  are  their  arsenals,  these  the  exhaustless  mines 

That  give  a  constant  heart  in  great  designs ; 

These  ai'e  the  stuff  whereof  such  dreams  are  made 

As  make  heroic  men  :  thus  surely  he 

Still  holds  in  place  the  massy  blocks  he  laid 

'Neath  our  new  frame,  enforcing  soberly 

The  self-control  that  makes  and  keeps  a  people  free. 


O,  for  a  drop  of  that  terse  Roman's  ink 

Who  gave  Agricola  dateless  length  of  days, 

To  celebrate  him  fitly,  neither  swerve 

To  phrase  unkempt,  nor  pass  discretion's  brink, 

With  him  so  statue-like  in  sad  reserve. 

So  diffident  to  claim,  so  forward  to  deserve  ! 


POEM    BY   JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL.  33 

Nor  need  I  shun  due  influence  of  his  fame 
Who,  moxial  among  mortals,  seemed  as  now 
The  equestrian  shape  with  unimpassioned  brow, 
That  paces  silent  on  through  vistas  of  acclaim. 


What  figure  more  immovably  august 

Than  that  grave  strength  so  patient  and  so  pure, 

Calm  in  good  fortune,  when  it  wavered,  sure. 

That  mind  serene,  impenetrably  just, 

Modelled  on  classic  lines  so  simple  they  endure? 

That  soul  so  softly  radiant  and  so  white 

The  track  it  left  seems  less  of  fire  than  light. 

Cold  but  to  such  as  love  distemperature? 

And  if  pure  light,  as  some  deem,  be  the  force 

That  drives  rejoicing  planets  on  their  course. 

Why  for  his  power  benign  seek  an  impurer  source? 

His  was  the  true  enthusiasm  that  burns  long, 

Domestically  bright, 

Fed  from  itself  and  shy  of  human  sight. 

The  hidden  force  that  makes  a  lifetime  strong. 

And  not  the  short-lived  fuel  of  a  song. 

Passionless,  say  you .''     Wha_t  is  passion  for 

But  to  sublime  our  natures  and  control 

To  front  heroic  toils  with  late  return, 

Or  none,  or  such  as  shames  the  conqueror? 

That  fire  was  fed  with  substance  of  the  soul 

And  not  with  lioliday  stubble,  that  could  burn, 

Unpraised  of  men  who  after  bonfires  run, 

Through  seven  slow  years  of  unadvancing  war, 

Equal  when  fields  were  lost  or  fields  were  won. 

With  breath  of  popular  applause  or  blame. 

Nor  fanned  nor  damped,  unqucnchably  the  same. 

Too  inward  to  be  reached  by  flaws  of  idle  fame. 

t 
3- 

Soldier  and  statesman,  rarest  unison  ; 
High-poised  example  of  great  duties  done 
Simply  as  breathing,  a  world's  honors  worn 
As  life's  indifierent  gifts  to  all  men  born  ; 
Dumb  for  himself,  unless  it  were  to  God, 
But  for  his  barefoot  soldiers  eloquent, 

S 


34  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Tramping  the  snow  to  coral  where  they  trod, 

Held  by  his  awe  in  hollow-eyed  content ; 

Modest,  yet  firm  as  Nature's  self;  unblamed 

Save  by  the  men  his  nobler  temper  shamed  ; 

Never  seduced  through  show  of  present  good 

By  other  than  unsetting  lights  to  steer 

New-trimmed  in  Heaven,  nor  than  his  steadfast  mood 

More  steadfast,  far  from  rashness  as  from  fear ; 

Rigid,  but  with  himself  first,  grasping  still 

In  swerveless  poise  the  wave-beat  helm  of  will ; 

Not  honored  then  or  now  because  he  wooed 

The  popular  voice,  but  that  he  still  withstood  ; 

Broad-minded,  higher  souled,  there  is  but  one 

Who  was  all  this  and  ours,  and  all  men's,  —  Washington. 


Minds  strong  by  fits,  irregularly  great. 

That  flash  and  darken  like  revolving  lights. 

Catch  more  the  vulgar  eye  unschooled  to  wait 

On  the  long  curve  of  patient  days  and  nights, 

Rounding  a  whole  life  to  tlie  circle  fair 

Of  orbed  fulfilment;  and  this  l:)alanced  soul. 

So  simple  in  its  grandeur,  coldly  bare 

Of  draperies  theatric,  standing  there 

In  perfect  symmetry  of  self-control, 

Seems  not  so  great  at  first,  but  greater  grows 

Still  as  we  look,  and  by  experience  learn 

How  grand  this  quiet  is,  how  nobly  stern 

The  discipline  that  wrought  through  lifelong  throes 

That  energetic  passion  of  repose. 

5- 

A  natui'e  too  decorous  and  severe. 

Too  self-respectful  in  its  griefs  and  joys, 

For  ardent  girls  and  boys 

Who  find  no  genius  in  a  mind  so  clear 

That  its  grave  depths  seem  obvious  and  near, 

Nor  a  soul  great  that  made  so  little  noise. 

They  feel  no  force  in  that  calm-cadenced  phrase, 

The  habitual  full-dress  of  his  well-bred  mind, 


POEM    BY   JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL.  35 

That  seems  to  pace  the  minuet's  courtly  maze 

And  tell  of  ampler  leisures,  roomier  length  of  days. 

His  firm-based  brain,  to  self  so  little  kind 

That  no  tumultuary  blood  could  blind, 

Formed  to  control  men,  not  amaze. 

Looms  not  like  those  that  borrow  height  of  haze  : 

It  was  a  world  of  statelier  movement  then 

Than  this  we  fret  in,  he  a  denizen 

Of  that  ideal  Rome  that  made  a  man  for  men. 


VI. 


The  longer  on  this  earth  we  live 

And  weigh  the  various  qualities  of  men. 

Seeing  how  most  are  fugitive. 

Or  fitful  gifts,  at  best,  of  now  and  then. 

Wind-wavered  corpse-lights,  daughters  of  the  fen. 

The  more  we  feel  the  high  stern-featured  beauty 

Of  plain  devotedness  to  duty. 

Steadfast  and  still,  nor  paid  with  mortal  praise. 

But  finding  amplest  recompense 

For  life's  ungarlanded  expense 

In  work  done  squarely  and  unwasted  days. 

For  this  we-honor  him,  that  he  could  know 

How  sweet  the  service  and  how  free 

Of  her,  God's  eldest  daughter  here  below, 

And  choose  in  meanest  raiment  which  was  she. 


Placid  completeness,  life  without  a  fall 

From  faith  or  highest  aims,  truth's  breachless  wall, 

Surely  if  any  fame  can  bear  the  touch. 

His  will  say  "  Here  !"  at  the  last  trumpet's  call. 

The  unexpressive  man  whose  life  expressed  so  much. 


36  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 


VII. 

I. 

Never  to  see  a  nation  born 

Hath  been  given  to  mortal  man, 

Unless  to  those  who,  on  that  summer  morn, 

Gazed  silent  vv^hen  the  great  Virginian 

Unsheathed  the  sword  whose  fatal  flash 

Shot  union  through  the  incoherent  clash 

Of  our  loose  atoms,  crystallizing  them 

Around  a  single  will's  unpliant  stem, 

And  making  purpose  of  emotion  rash. 

Out  of  that  scabbard  sprang,  as  from  its  womb, 

Nebulous  at  first  but  hardening  to  a  star, 

Through  mutual  share  of  sunburst  and  of  gloom, 

The  common  faith  that  made  us  what  we  are. 


That  lifted  blade  transformed  our  jangling  clans, 

Till  then  provincial,  to  Americans, 

And  made  a  unity  ofwildering  plans; 

Here  was  the  doom  fixed  :  here  is  marked  the  date 

When  this  New  World  awoke  to  man's  estate, 

Burnt  its  last  ship  and  ceased  to  look  behind  : 

Nor  thoughtless  was  the  choice  ;  no  love  or  hate 

Could  from  its  poise  move  that  deliberate  mind, 

Weighing  between  too  early  and  too  late 

Those  pitftills  of  the  man  refused  by  Fate : 

His  was  the  impartial  vision  of  the  great 

Who  see  not  as  they  wish,  but  as  they  find. 

He  saw  the  dangers  of  defeat,  nor  less 

The  incomputable  perils  of  success  ; 

The  sacred  past  thrown  b}',  an  empty  rind  ; 

The  future,  cloud-land,  snare  of  prophets  blind  ; 

The  waste  of  war,  the  ignominy  of  peace  ; 

On  either  hand  a  sullen  rear  of  woes, 

Whose  garnered  lightnings  none  could  guess. 

Piling  its  thunder-heads  and  muttering  "  Cease  !  " 

Yet  drew  not  back  his  hand,  but  gravely  chose 

The  seeming-desperate  task  w^hence  our  new  nation  rose. 


POEM    BY   JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL.  37 


A  noble  choice  and  of  immortal  seed  ! 

Nor  deem  that  acts  heroic  wait  on  chance 

Or  easy  were  as  in  a  boy's  romance  ; 

The  man's  whole  life  preludes  the  single  deed 

That  shall  decide  if  his  inheritance 

Be  with  the  sifted  few  of  matchless  breed, 

Our  race's  sap  and  sustenance, 

Or  with  the  unmotived  herd  that  only  sleep  and  feed. 

Choice  seems  a  thing  indifferent ;  thus  or  so. 

What  matters  it.'*     The  Fates  with  mocking  face 

Look  on  inexoi'able,  nor  seem  to  know 

Where  the  lot  lurks  that  gives  life's  foremost  place. 

Yet  Duty's  leaden  casket  holds  it  still, 

And  but  two  ways  are  offered  to  our  will, 

Toil  with  rare  triumph,  ease  with  safe  disgrace, 

The  problem  still  for  us  and  all  of  human  race. 

He  chose,  as  men  choose,  where  most  danger  showed, 

Nor  ever  faltered  'neath  the  load 

Of  petty  cares,  that  gall  great  hearts  the  most. 

But  kept  right  on  the  strenuous  uphill  road, 

Strong  to  the  end,  above  complaint  or  boast : 

The  popular  tempest  on  his  rock-mailed  coast 

Wasted  its  wind-borne  spray. 

The  noisy  marvel  of  a  day  ; 

His  soul  sate  still  in  its  unstormed  abode. 


VIII. 

Virginia  gave  us  this  imperial  man 

Cast  in  the  massive  mould 

Of  those  high-statured  ages  old 

Which  into  grander  forms  our  mortal  metal  ran  ; 

She  gave  us  this  unblemished  gentleman  : 

What  shall  we  give  her  back  but  love  and  praise 

As  in  the  dear  old  unestranged  days 

Before  the  inevitable  wrong  began? 

Mother  of  vStates  and  undiminished  men, 

Thou  gavest  us  a  country,  giving  him, 


38  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

And  we  owe  alway  what  we  owed  thee  then  : 

The  boon  thou  wouldst  have  snatched  from  us  agen 

Shines  as  before  with  no  abatement  dim. 

A  great  man's  memory  is  the  only  thing 

With  influence  to  outlast  the  present  whim 

And  bind  us  as  when  here  he  knit  our  golden  ring. 

All  of  him  that  was  subject  to  the  hours 

Lies  in  thy  soil  and  makes  it  part  of  ours  : 

Across  more  recent  graves, 

Where  unresentful  Nature  waves 

Her  pennons  o'er  the  shot-ploughed  sod, 

Proclaiming  the  sweet  Truce  of  God, 

We  from  this  consecrated  plain  stretch  out 

Our  hands  as  free  from  afterthought  or  doubt 

As  here  the  united  North 

Poured  her  embrowned  manhood  forth 

In  welcome  of  our  savior  and  thy  son. 

Through  battle  we  have  better  learned  thy  worth, 

The  long-breathed  valor  and  undaunted  will. 

Which,  like  his  own,  the  day's  disaster  done, 

Could,  safe  in  manhood,  suffer  and  be  still. 

Both  thine  and  ours  the  victory  hardly  won  ; 

If  ever  with  distempered  voice  or  pen 

We  have  misdeemed  thee,  here  we  take  it  back. 

And  for  the  dead  of  both  don  common  black. 

Be  to  us  evermore  as  thou  wast  then. 

As  we  forget  thou  hast  not  always  been. 

Mother  of  States  and  unpolluted  men, 

Virginia,  fitly  named  from  England's  manly  queen  ! 


After  another  selection  by  the  band,  Mayor  Bradford 
introduced  Rev.  Andrew  P.  Peabody,  D.D.,  the  orator 
of  the  day. 


[Note.  — The  Poem  by  Prof.  Lowell  (as  well  as  that  by  Dr.  Holmes)  is  here  printed  "by 
permission  of  H.  O.  Houghton  &  Co.,  publishers  of  the  'Atlantic  Monthly,'''  with  alterations 
and  additional  lines.] 


ADDRESS, 


REV.     ANDREW     P.     PEABODY,     D.D. 


'X^IT'HEN  it  was  proposed  to  give  a  place  to  this 
epoch  in  the  series  of  centennials,  my  first 
thought  was  that  Lexington,  Concord.  Bunker  Hill, 
in  so  recent  memory,  and  the  already  glowing  work 
of  preparation  for  the  countr^^'s  hundredth  birthday, 
would  so  dwarf  and  chill  our  celebration  here  as  to 
make  it  merely  a  heartless  municipal  parade.  But 
the  occasion  has  grown  upon  me.  I  see  and  feel  that 
it  holds  the  foremost  place  in  the  series.  It  has 
paramount  claims,  not  on  us  or  our  State,  but  on  our 
whole  people.  We  might  rightfull}^  have  made  our 
arrangements,  not  for  a  local,  but  for  a  national  festival. 
We  commemorate  the  epoch  but  for  which  Lexington, 
Concord,  Bunker  Hill,  would  have  left  in  our  history 
hardly  a  trace,  probably  not  a  single  name,  and  the 
centennial  of  our  independence  would  remain  for  a 
generation  not  yet  upon  the  stage  to  celebrate. 

Cambridge  was  the  first  capital  of  our  infant  re- 
public, the  cradle  of  our  nascent  liberty,  the  hearth  of 
our  kindling  patriotism.  Before  the  3d  of  July,  1775, 
there   were  tumults,  conflicts,  bold   plans,  rash  enter- 


40  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

prises;  but  there  was  no  co-ordinating  and  controlling 
will,  purpose,  or  authority.  On  and  from  that  day 
the  colonies  were  virtually  one  people.  Before,  they 
had  nothing  in  common  but  their  grievances.  They 
were  as  yet  British  provinces  ;  though  wrenching 
the  cords  that  held  them,  still  undetached,  and  with 
no  mode  of  action  upon  or  with  one  another.  By 
adopting  the  army,  and  choosing  its  head,  they  per- 
formed their  first  act,  not  of  alliance,  but  of  organic 
unity,  and  became  a  nation  unawares,  while  they 
thought  themselves  still  wronged  and  suppliant  depen- 
dencies of  the  British  crown.  They  thus  decided  the 
question  between  a  worse  than  unsuccessful  rebellion 
and  revolution. 

That  the  rebellion,  as  such,  would  have  been  an 
utter  failure,  is  only  too  certain.  The  American  party 
in  England  had  on  its  side  eloquence  indeed,  and 
wisdom,  but  neither  numerical  force  in  parliament, 
nor  the  power  to  mollify  ministerial  obstinacy,  or  to 
penetrate  with  a  sense  of  right  the  gross  stupidity  on 
the  throne.  Boston  was  held  by  disciplined,  thoroughly 
armed,  and  well-fed  troops,  under  officers  of  approved 
skill  and  prowess,  strongly  intrenched  and  fortified 
at  accessible  points,  and  sustained  by  a  formidable 
naval  force.  Hardly  one  in  fifty  of  the  colonial  army 
had  had  any  experience  in  war;  and  I  doubt  whether 
there  was  a  single  man  among  them,  officer  or  private, 
who  was  a  soldier  by  profession.  They  had  come 
from  the  farm  and  the  forge,  with  such  arms  and 
equipments  as  they  could  bring:  they  had  no  bureau 
of  supply,  no  military  chest,  nor  organized  commis- 
sariat; and  their  stock  of  ammunition  was  so  slender. 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.    PEABODV.  41 

that  it  was  ordered  by  the  Provincial  Congress  that 
no  salute  should  be  fired  on  the  reception  of  the 
commander-in-chief.  They  were  from  four  different 
provinces,  under  as  many  generals,  with  sectional 
jealousies  which  the  common  cause  could  hardly 
keep  at  bay;  and  harmonious  counsels  could  be 
maintained  or  expected  only  and  scarcely  at  moments 
of  imminent  peril.  At  Bunker  Hill  they  had  shown 
both  their  strength  and  their  weakness,  their  unsur- 
passed courage  and  their  poverty  of  resource.  Su- 
perior in  the  conflict,  overwhelming  the  enemy  with 
the  shame  and  disaster  of  a  signal  defeat,  they  had 
been  compelled  to  yield  the  ground  on  which  they 
had  won  imperishable  glory,  and  to  see  the  heights 
they  had  so  bravely  defended  occupied  by  a  hostile 
batter}'.  They  held  Boston  beleaguered  by  the  prestige 
of  that  day,  too  feeble  to  press  the  siege,  yet,  as  they 
had  well  proved,  too  strong  to  be  dislodged  and 
scattered  but  by  the  disintegrating  elements  in  their 
own  unorganized  body.  These  elements  were  already 
at  work,  and  the  secession  of  even  a  single  regiment 
would  have  been  the  signal  for  speedy  dissolution, 
and  submission  to  the  royal  government. 

This  precarious  condition  of  affairs  was  beyond 
the  remedial  authority  of  the  individual  provinces. 
Massachusetts  could  choose  a  general  for  her  own 
troops,  but  could  not  place  the  forces  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island,  under  his  con- 
trol. Still  less  could  any  efBcient  system  of  sustenance 
or  armament  have  been  arranged  by  several  legislatures. 
A  central  authority  alone  could  carry  forward  the 
resistance   so   nobly  begun.      The   Continental  Con- 

6 


42  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

gress  would  in  vain  have  passed  patriotic  resolutions, 
protests  against  tyranny,  votes  of  sympathy  ;  in  vain 
would  they  have  aroused  popular  indignation  and 
multiplied  centres  of  resistance  through  the  land. 
The  one  decisive  act  in  the  struggle,  the  seal  of  what 
had  been  achieved,  the  presage  and  pledge  of  all  that 
should  ensue  in  the  coming  years,  was  that  the  con- 
summation of  which  we  now  celebrate. 

Cambridge  was  for  obvious  geographical  reasons 
the  only  place  where  the  provincial  troops  could 
have  their  head-quarters,  —  lying  near  enough  to  the 
enemy  to  watch  and  check  his  movements,  yet  pro- 
tected from  sudden  or  insidious  attack  by  the  inter- 
vention of  the  then  unbridged  arm  of  the  sea  which 
separates  it  from  Boston.  There  was,  at  the  same 
time,  an  intrinsic  fitness  that  the  opening  scenes  of 
the  great  drama  should  be  enacted  here,  where  so 
many  of  the  leaders  in  counsel  and  arms  had  learned 
to  loathe  oppression  and  to  hold  the  cause  of  liberty 
sacred. 

From  its  earliest  days  our  university  had  alwa3's 
been  on  the  side  of  freedom.  Its  first  two  presidents 
were  far  in  advance  of  their  times  in  their  views  of 
the  right  of  the  individual  man  to  unrestricted  liberty 
of  thought,  opinion,  speech,  and  action.  Increase 
Mather,  when  president,  took  the  lead  in  the  opposi- 
tion to  the  tyrannical  acts  of  Andros  and  Randolph, 
sailed  for  England  as  the  unofficial  agent  of  the  ag- 
grieved colonists,  was  appointed  to  an  official  agency 
on  the  news  of  the  revolution  of  i6S8,  bore  an  im- 
portant part  in  the  construction  of  the  new  provincial 
charter  and  in  securing  its  acceptance,  and  nominated 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.    PEABODY.  43 

to  the  royal  court  the  governor,  council,  and  principal 
officers  under  it.  His  successors  were  of  a  like  spirit; 
and  there  is  on  record  no  instance  in  which  the  collesre 
succumbed  to  usurpation,  stooped  to  sycophancy,  or 
maintained  other  than  an  erect  position  before  the 
emissaries  of  the  royal  government.  The  culture  of 
the  students  was  in  great  part  classical,  and  in  the 
last  century  the  classics  were  the  text-books  of  all 
lovers  of  freedom.  A  sceptical  criticism  had  not 
then  cast  doubt  on  any  of  the  stories  of  ancient  hero- 
ism; nor  had  a  minute  analysis  laid  bare  the  excesses 
and  defects  of  the  early  republics,  whose  statesmen 
and  warriors  were  deemed  the  peerless  models  of 
patriotic  virtue,  and  whose  orators  thrilled  the  hearts 
of  their  New-England  readers  as  they  had  the  Athe- 
nian demos,  the  senate  in  the  capitol,  or  the  dense 
masses  of  Roman  citizens  in  the  forum. 

Almost  all  the  Massachusetts  clergy,  perhaps  the 
major  part  of  those  of  New  England,  had  been  edu- 
cated here.  The  Tories  among  them  were  very  few, 
and  nearly  the  whole  of  their  number  were  ardent 
patriots.  The  pulpit  then  sustained  in  affairs  of  public 
moment  the  part  which  is  now  borne  by  the  daily 
press;  its  utterances  during  the  eventful  years  of  our 
life-struggle  had  no  uncertain  sound;  and  the  cham- 
pions, deeds  of  prowess,  and  war-lyrics  of  the  Hebrew 
Scriptures  gave  the  frequent  key-note  to  sermon, 
prayer,  and  sacred  song. 

Among  the  pioneers  and  guiding  spirits  of  the 
Revolution  who  were  graduates  of  the  college,  when 
I  have  named  the  Adamses,  Otises,  Quincys,  War- 
rens, Pickering,  Hancock,  Trumbull,  Ward,  Gushing, 


44  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Bowdoin,  Phillips,  I  have  but  given  you  specimens  of 
the  type  and  temper  of  those  w^ho  for  many  years  had 
gone  from  Cambridge  to  fill  the  foremost  places  of 
trust  and  influence  throughout  and  beyond  our  Com- 
monwealth. That  they  carried  with  them  hence  their 
liberal  views  of  government  and  of  the  rights  of  man, 
we  well  know  in  the  case  of  those  of  whose  lives  we 
have  the  record.  Thus  we  find  John  Adams,  just 
after  graduating  here,  more  than  twenty  years  before 
the  declaration  of  independence,  writing  to  a  friend 
his  anticipations  for  America,  not  only  of  her  freedom 
from  European  sway,  but  of  her  becoming  the  chief 
seat  of  empire  for  the  world.  Year  after  year,  on  the 
commencement  platform  in  the  old  parish-church, 
had  successive  ranks  of  earnest  young  men  rehearsed 
to  greedy  ears  the  dream  of  liberty  which  they  pledged 
faith  and  life  to  realize. 

In  the  successive  stages  of  the  conflict  of  the  colo- 
nies with  the  mother-country,  the  college  uniformly 
committed  itself  unequivocally  on  the  patriotic  side. 
When  the  restrictions  on  the  colonial  trade  called 
forth  warm  expressions  of  resentment,  the  senior  class 
unanimously  resolved  to  take  their  degrees  in  w^hat 
must  then  have  been  exceedingly  rude  apparel, — 
home-spun  and  home-made  cloth.  When  tea  was 
proscribed  by  public  sentiment,  and  some  few  stu- 
dents persisted  in  bringing  it  into*  commons,  the  fac- 
ulty forbade  its  use,  alleging  that  it  was  a  source  of 
grief  and  uneasiness  to  many  of  the  students,  and 
that  banishing  it  was  essential  to  harmony  and 
peace  within  the  college-walls.  After  the  day  of 
Lexington  and  Concord  all  four  of  the  then  existing 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.   PEABODV.  45 

college-buildings  were  given  up  for  barracks,  and  the 
president's  house  for  officers'  quarters.  When  the 
commander-in-chief  was  expected,  this  house  was 
desig-nated  for  his  use,  with  the  reservation  of  a 
single  room  for  President  Langdon's  own  occupancy. 
Thousfh  the  few  remaining  students  were  removed 
to  Concord,  the  president,  an  ardent  patriot,  seems  to 
have  still  resided  here,  or  at  least  to  have  spent  a 
large  portion  of  his  time  near  the  troops;  for  we  find 
frequent  traces  of  his  presence  among  them,  and  on  the 
eve  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  he  officiated  as  their 
chaplain.  In  connection  with  the  prevailing  spirit  of 
the  university,  it  is  worthy  of  emphatic  statement  that 
the  commander-in-chief  was  the  first  person  who  here 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  laws. 

To  Harvard  graduates  the  country  was  indebted 
for  the  choice  of  the  illustrious  chieftain.  The  earliest 
mention  that  we  can  find  of  Washington's  name  in 
this  connection  is  in  a  letter  of  James  Warren  to  John 
Adams,  bearing  date  the  7th  of  May.  Adams  seems 
at  once  to  have  regarded  him  as  the  only  man  fitted 
for  this  momentous  service.  Though  the  formal  nom- 
ination was  made  by  Mr.  Johnson  of  Maryland,  Mr. 
Adams  on  a  previous  day  first  designated  Washington 
as  "  a  gentleman  whose  skill  and  experience  as  an 
officer,  whose  independent  fortune,  great  talents,  and 
excellent  universal  character,  would  command  the 
approbation  of  all  America,  and  unite  the  cordial 
exertions  of  all  the  colonies  better  than  any  other 
person  in  the  Union."  There  were,  however,  objec- 
tions on  sectional  grounds  and  personal  ambitions 
that  required  the  most  delicate  treatment;  and  it  was 


46  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL, 

mainly  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Adams's  strong  will, 
untiring  effort,  and  skilful  handling  of  opposing  wishes 
and  claims,  that  the  final  ballot  was  unanimous.  On 
the  5th  of  June  the  election  was  made.  It  was  formally 
announced  to  Washington  by  Hancock,  the  President 
of  Congress,  and  was  accepted  on  the  spot. 

The  commander,  impressed  with  the  imminence  of 
the  crisis,  denied  himself  the  sad  privilege  of  a  fare- 
well in  person  to  his  own  household,  took  leave  of  his 
wife  in  a  letter  equally  brave  and  tender,  and  on  the 
2ist  commenced  his  northward  journey.  Twenty 
miles  from  Philadelphia  he  met  a  courier  with  tidings 
of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Eagerly  inquiring  as  to 
the  details  of  the  transaction,  and  learning  the  prompt- 
ness, skill,  and  courage  that  had  made  the  day  for  ever 
memorable,  he  exclaimed, ''The  liberties  of  the  coun- 
try are  safe  !  "  A  deputation  from  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress met  him  at  Springfield,  and  volunteer  cavalcades 
gave  him  honorable  attendance  from  town  to  town,  till 
on  the  2d  of  July  he  arrived  at  Watertown,  received 
and  returned  the  congratulatory  address  of  the  Con- 
gress there  assembled,  and  was  then  escorted  by  a 
compan}^  of  horse  and  a  goodly  body  of  mounted  civil- 
ians to  the  president's  house,  now  known  as  Wads- 
worth  House.  The  rapid  journey  on  horseback  from 
Philadelphia  to  Cambridge,  and  that  in  part  over  rough 
roads,  —  an  enterprise  be3-ond  the  easy  conception  of 
our  time,  —  must  have  rendered  the  brief  repose  of  that 
midsummer  night  essential  to  the  prestige  of  the  mor- 
row, when  on  the  first  impressions  of  the  hour  may 
have  been  poised  the  destiny  of  the  nation. 

There  were  reasons  why  Washington  not  only  might 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.   PEABODY.  47 

have  been,  but  would  inevitably  have  been,  ill  received 
had  he  not  been  made  to  win  men's  confidence  and 
love.  Several  of  the  officers  already  on  the  ground 
had  shown  their  capacity  for  great  things,  and  had 
their  respective  circles  of  admirers,  who  were  reluc- 
tant to  see  them  superseded  by  a  stranger  ;  and,  had 
not  the  officers  themselves  manifested  a  magnanimity 
equal  to  their  courage,  the  camp  would  have  been 
already  distracted  by  hostile  factions.  Then,  too,  the 
Virginian  and  New-England  character,  manners,  style 
of  speech,  modes  of  living,  tastes,  aptitudes,  had  much 
less  in  common  at  that  time  of  infrequent  intercourse 
than  half  a  century  later,  when,  as  we- well  know, 
apart  from  political  divergence,  mere  social  differences 
were  sufficient  to  create  no  little  mutual  repugnancy. 
Washington  was  also  well  known  to  be  an  Episcopa- 
lian; and  Episcopacy,  from  the  first  t)ffensive  on  Pu- 
ritan soil,  was  never  more  abhorred  than  now,  when 
its  Northern  professors,  with  hardly  an  exception,  were 
openly  hostile  to  the  cause  of  the  people;  when  in 
Cambridge  almost  every  conspicuous  dwelling,  from 
Fresh  Pond  to  the  Inman  House  in  Cambridgeport, 
had  been  the  residence  of  a  refugee  royalist  member 
of  the  English  Church. 

The  morning  of  the  3d  of  July  witnessed  on  the 
Cambridge  Common,  and  at  every  point  of  view  in 
and  upon  the  few  surrounding  houses,  such  a  multitude 
of  men,  women,  and  children,  as  had  never  been  gath- 
ered here  before,  and  perhaps  has  never  since  assem- 
bled till  this  very  day.  Never  was  the  advent  or 
presence  of  mortal  man  a  more  complete  and  transcen- 
dent triumph.     Majestic  grace    and   sweet  benignity 


48  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

were  blended  in  countenance  and  mien.  He  looked 
at  once  the  hero,  patriot,  sage.  With  equal  dignity 
and  modesty  he  received  the  thunders  of  acclamation, 
in  which  every  voice  bore  part.  His  first  victory,  the 
prestige  of  which  forsook  him  not  for  a  moment  during 
the  weary  years  that  followed,  was  already  gained 
when  under  yon  ancient  elm  he  drew  his  sword  as 
commander-in-chief.  He  had  conquered  thousands 
of  hearts,  that  remained  true  to  him  to  their  last  throb. 
The  wife  of  John  Adams  writes  of  his  appearance  at 
that  moment,  "  Those  lines  of  Drj'den  instantly  oc- 
curred to  me :  — 

'  Mark  his  majestic  fabric  !     He's  a  temple 
Sacred  b}'  birth,  and  built  by  hands  div'ine  ; 
His  soul's  the  deity  that  lodges  there  ; 
Nor  is  the  pile  unworthy  of  the  god.'  " 

Never  indeed*  can  the  temple  have  been  more 
worthy  of  the  tenant.  He  was  forty-three  years  of 
age,  in  the  prime  of  manly  vigor  and  beauty,  tall  and 
commanding,  S3'mmetrical  and  graceful,  unsurpassed 
as  an  accomplished  equestrian,  with  the  bearing  and 
manners  of  a  high-bred  gentleman.  His  countenance 
—  in  later  years,  and  in  many  of  the  portraits  and  en- 
gravings of  him,  fearfully  distorted  by  one  of  the  first 
rude  essays  of  American  manufacturing  dentistry  — 
still  bore  the  perfect  outlines  which  nature  gave  it, 
and  betokened  the  solemn  grandeur  of  soul,  loftiness, 
gentleness,  simplicity,  benevolence,  which  dwelt  with- 
in. Peale's  portrait  of  him,  taken  a  year  or  two  ear- 
lier, and  engraved  for  the  second  volume  of  Irving's 
"  Life  of  Washington,"  fully  justifies  the  enthusiastic 
admiration  which  welcomed  his  appearance  here,  and 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.    ANDREW    P.  PEABODV.  49 

in  subsequent  years  made  his  mere  presence  an  irre- 
sistible power. 

With  characteristic  promptness  he  lingered  not  to 
satisfy  the  eyes  that  feasted  on  him,  but  immediately 
made  his  inspection  of  the  encampments  scattered  in 
a  semicircle  from  Winter  Hill  to  Dorchester  Neck, 
and  reconnoitred  the  British  troops  from  all  available 
points  of  observation.  On  the  British  side  he  saw 
ever}^  token  of  military  science,  skilful  engineering, 
and  strict  discipline  ;  within  the  American  lines,  an 
aggregation  rather  than  an  army,  —  bodies  of  raw, 
untrained  militia,  a  sad  deficiency  of  arms,  accou- 
tements,  and  even  necessary  clothing,  rudely  con- 
structed works,  extensive,  too,  beyoi^d  the  capacity  of 
the  troops  to  maintain  and  defend  them.  Only  among 
the  Rhode-Island  regiments,  under  General  Greene,  did 
he  discover  aught  of  m.ilitary  order,  system,  discipline, 
and  subordination.  The  greater  part  of  the  forces 
consisted  of  Massachusetts  men,  and  these  were  the 
most  destitute.  The  commander's  large-hearted  sym- 
pathy did  ample  justice  to  their  need  and  to  their 
patriotism.  "This  unhappy  and  devoted  province," 
he  writes  to  the  President  of  Congress,  "  has  been  so 
long  in  a  state  of  anarchy,  and  the  yoke  has  been  laid 
so  heavily  on  it,  that  great  allowances  are  to  be  made 
for  troops  raised  under  such  circumstances.  The 
deficiency  of  numbers,  discipline,  and  stores  can  only 
lead  to  this  conclusion,  that  their  spirit  has  exceeded 
their  strength." 

How  long  Washington  remained  in  the  president's 
house  cannot  be  ascertained,  —  probably  but  a  few 
days.     The  house,  considerably  smaller  than  it  now 

7 


50  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

is,  was  insufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  his  mili- 
tary family;  and  arrangements  were  early  made  for 
his  removal  to  the  Vassall  House,  now  Mr.  Long- 
fellow's, which  had  been  deserted  by  its  Tory  owner, 
and  occupied  by  the  Marblehead  troops.  Here  he 
resided  till  the  following  April. 

I  have  described  the  acclamations  of  joy,  trust,  and 
hope  that  hailed  our  chieftain's  arrival.  With  the 
shouts  of  the  multitude  ascended  to  heaven  the  last 
breath  of  a  Cambridge  patriot.  Colonel  Gardner  —  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  a  man  universally 
honored  and  beloved,  a  pillar  in  Church  and  State, 
one  of  the  bravest  officers  at  Bunker  Hill  —  received 
his  fatal  wound  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  rallied 
strength  to  urge  them  to  valiant  and  vigorous  resist- 
ance, lingered  death-bound  till*  the  morning  that  gave 
the  troops  their  leader  and  the  country  its  father,  and 
left  the  charge  of  a  gallant  officer  s  obsequies  for  the 
commander's  first  official  duty.  We  have  the  general 
order,  bearing  date  July  4,  for  the  rendering  of  the 
usual  military  honors  at  the  funeral  of  one  who  —  so 
the  document  reads  —  "  fought,  bled,  and  died  in  the 
cause  of  his  country  and  mankind," — words  then  first 
used,  and  which  have  become  too  trite  for  repetition, 
simply  because  they  are  in  themselves,  be3'ond  com- 
parison, comprehensive,  appropriate,  majestic,  worthy 
of  the  great  heart  that  sought  expression  in  them. 

Washington's  life  here  has  left  few  records  except 
those  which  belong  to  the  history  of  the  war  and  of 
the  country.  He  lived  generously,  though  frugally; 
receiving  often  at  dinner  his  generals,  the  foremost 
personages  in  civil  office  and  influence,  delegates  from 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.  PEABODY.  5 1 

the  Continental  Congress,  and  distinguished  visitors 
to  the  camp.  His  own  habits  were  ahnost  abstemious; 
and  when,  according  to  the  invariable  custom  of  the 
time,  a  long  session  at  table  seemed  inevitable,  he 
left  his  guests  in  charge  of  some  one  of  his  staff  more 
disposed  than  himself  to  convivial  indulgence.  During 
the  latter  portion  of  his  sojourn  here,  his  wife  relieved 
him  in  part  from  the  cares  of  the  hospitality  which 
she  was  admirably  fitted  to  adorn.  He  generally  at- 
tended worship  at  the  church  of  the  First  Parish.  I 
well  remember  the  site  of  the  square  pew,  under  the 
shadow  of  the  massive  pulpit,  which  he  was  said  to 
have  statedly  occupied;  and  the  mention  of  it  recalls 
to  my  recollection  a  couplet  of  a  hymn  written  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Holmes,  and  sung  in  the  old  church  on  the 
Fourth  of  July,  fifty  years  ago,  in  which  he  describes 
that  house  of  worship  as  the  place 

"  Where,  in  our  country's  darkest  day, 
Her  war-clad  hero  came  to  pray." 

Once,  perhaps  oftener,  service  was  performed  in 
Christ  Church,  whose  rector  and  most  of  his  leading 
parishioners  had  become  exiles  on  political  grounds. 

It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  importance  of 
these  nine  months  in  Cambridge.  Washington  him- 
self was  impatient  of  the  delay.  But  for  the  prudent 
counsels  of  the  generals  who  knew  their  men  better 
than  he  could  know  them  thus  early,  he  would  have 
made  a  direct  assault  on  the  British  troops,  and  at- 
tempted to  force  their  surrender  or  retreat;  and  it  was 
here  that  he  learned  to  wait,  to  curb  his  native  im- 
petuousness  of  temper,  and  to  make  discretion  the 
trusty  satellite  of  valor. 


$2  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Meanwhile  the  army  was  constantly  increasing  in 
numbers,  and  was  largely  recruited  from  the  Middle 
and  Southern  States;  while  in  New  England,  as  the 
term  of  service  for  which  enlistments  had  been  made 
expired,  the  soldiers  either  re-enlisted,  or  were  re- 
placed, or  more  than  replaced,  by  men  of  equal  zeal 
and  courage.  There  were  sufficientl}'^  frequent  alarms 
and  skirmishes  to  keep  alive  the  practice  of  arms; 
while  the  long  line  of  outposts,  more  or  less  exposed 
to  sudden  assault,  demanded  incessant  vigilance,  and 
formed  a  training-school  in  strict  discipline,  prompt 
obedience,  and  those  essential  habits  of  camp-life 
which  the  citizen-soldier,  how^ever  brave  in  battle, 
finds  most  uncongenial,  harassing,  and  burdensome. 

The  power  of  a  single  organizing  mind  was  never 
more  fully  manifested  than  in  the  creation  of  a  regular 
and  disciplined  arm}^  from  the  raw  recruits,  the  ma- 
terials heterogeneous  to  the  last  degree,  to  all  appear- 
ance hopelessly  incongruous,  which  now  came  under 
the  commander's  shaping  hand.  Confusion  crystal- 
lized into  order;  discord  resolved  itself  into  harmony; 
jarring  counsels  were  reconciled;  rivalries  vanished, 
as  every  man  found  his  abilities  recognized,  his  fitting 
place  and  due  honor  accorded  to  him,  and  his  services 
utilized  to  their  utmost  capacity.. 

Never  in  the  history  of  military  achievements  was 
there  a  more  signal  triumph  than  in  the  termination 
of  the  siege  of  Boston.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of 
March,  when  General  Howe  saw  the  four  strong 
redoubts  which  had  risen  on  Dorchester  Heis^hts 
while  he  slept,  he  exclaimed,  "  The  rebels  have  done 
more  work  in  one  night  than   my  whole  army  could 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.    PEABODY.  53 

have  done  in  one  month."  In  the  evening  the  British 
were  secure  within  their  lines,  and  counted  on  the 
speedy  dispersion  of  the  besieging  army  ;  in  the 
morning  they  saw  surrender  or  flight  as  their  only 
alternative.  The  siege  was  made  complete  and  im- 
pregnable. But  for  the  ships  at  anchor  in  the  harbor, 
the  entire  British  army  would  have  been  prisoners 
of  war. 

Thus  closed  the  first  act  of  the  great  drama,  —  here, 
where  we  stand,  initiated,  matured,  directed,  borne 
on  to  its  glorious  and  ever-memorable  issue.  Ours, 
then,  is  more  than  a  battle-ground,  —  a  soil  hallowed 
by  those  wise,  stern,  self-denying  counsels,  without 
which  feats  of  arms  were  mere  child's  play,  made 
sacred  by  the  presence  of  such  a  constellation  of 
patriots  as  can  hardly  ever,  elsewhere  upon  earth, 
have  deliberated  on  the  destiny  of  a  nation  in  its  birth- 
throes,  —  Putnam,  Greene,  Stark,  Prescott,  Ward, 
Read,  and  their  illustrious  associates,  men  who  staked 
their  all  in  the  contest,  and  deemed  death  for  their 
country  but  a  nobler  and  more  enduring  life. 

Enough  of  history.  Let  us  now  gather  up  as  we 
may  some  few  traits  of  the  character  of  him  on  whom 
our  central  regard  is  fixed  in  these  commemorative 
rites. 

The  Washington  of  the  popular  imagination,  nay, 
of  our  gravest  histories,  is  a  mythical  personage,  such 
as  never  lived  or  could  have  lived  among  men.  The 
figure  is  too  much  like  that  of  the  perfect  goddess 
born  from  the  brain  of  Jupiter.  Washington  undoubt- 
edly grew  as  other  men  grow,  was  not  exempt  from 
human  passions  and  infirmities,  was  shaped  and  trained 


54  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

by  the  Providence  whose  chosen  instrument  he  was. 
It  was  his  glory  that  he  yielded  to  the  plastic  hand, 
obeyed  the  heavenl}^  vision,  followed  without  halting 
the  guiding  spirit.  The  evident  coldness  of  the  Vir- 
ginia delegates  in  Congress  with  regard  to  his  ap- 
pointment shows  that  up  to  that  time,  notwithstanding 
his  early  military  experience,  they  had  seen  little  in 
him  to  distinguish  him  from  other  respectable  gentle- 
men of  faultless  lineage,  fair  estate,  and  unblemished 
reputation.  But,  from  the  moment  when  he  accepted 
the  command  of  the  army,  he  gave  himself  entirely 
and  irrevocably  to  his  country.  Such  singleness  of 
purpose  as  his  is  the  essence  of  genius,  whose  self- 
creating  law  is,  "  This  one  thing  I  do."  From  that 
moment  no  collateral  interest  turned  him  aside;  no 
shadow  of  self  crossed  his  path;  no  lower  ambition 
came  between  him  and  his  country's  cause:  he  had 
no  hope,  no  fear,  but  for  the  sacred  trust  devolved 
upon  him.  His  disinterestedness  gave  him  his  clear 
and  keen  vision,  his  unswerving  impartiality,  his  un- 
compromising rectitude,  his  power  over  other  minds. 
The  self-seeking  man  sees  double;  and  we  learn  from 
the  highest  authority  that  it  is  only  when  the  eye  is 
single  that  "  the  whole  body  is  full  of  light."  The 
secret  of  influence,  also,  lies  here.  The  man  who 
can  be  supposed  to  have  personal  ends  in  view,  even 
though  in  his  own  mind  they  are  but  secondary,  is 
always  liable  to  be  judged  by  them,  and  the  good  that 
is  in  him  gains  not  half  the  confidence  it  deserves. 
But  self-abnegation,  when  clearly  recognized,  wins 
not  only  respect,  but  assent  and  deference:  its  opinions 
have  the  validity  of  absolute  truth;  its  will,  the  force 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.  PEABODY.  55 

of  impersonal  law.  The  professed  philanthropists 
and  reformers  who  have  swarmed  in  the  social  his- 
tory of  the  last  half-century  furnish  a  manifold  illus- 
tration of  this  principle.  The  few  of  them  who  have 
carried  large  numbers  along  with  them  and  have 
moved  the  world  have  not  been  the  greatest  and  most 
gifted  among  them,  but  those  who  have  cared  not,  if 
the  wheel  would  only  turn,  whether  it  raised  them  to 
fame,  or  crushed  them  to  powder.  So  men  believed 
and  trusted  in  Washington,  not  merely  because  he 
was  a  wise  and  prudent  man,  but  because  they  knew 
him  to  be  as  utterly  incapable  of  selfish  aims  and 
motives  as  the  Liberty  whose  cause  he  served. 

I  have  spoken  of  a  sort  of  mythical,  superhuman 
grandeur  in  which  Washington  has  been  enshrined 
in  much  of  our  popular  speech  and  literature.  I  think 
that,  on  the  other  hand,  there  has  been  in  some  quarters 
a  disposition  to  underrate  him.  For  this  there  is 
ample  reason,  yet  no  ground.  He  seems  the  less 
because  he  was  so  great.  A  perfect  sphere  looks 
smaller  than  one  of  the  same  dimensions  with  a 
diversified  surface.  We  measure  eminences  by  de- 
pressions, the  height  of  mountains  by  the  chasms  that 
3^awn  beneath  them.  Littlenesses  of  character  give 
prominence  to  what  there  is  in  it  of  greatness.  The 
one  virtue  looms  up  with  a  fascinating  grandeur  from 
a  life  full  of  faults.  The  patriot  who  will  not  pay 
his  debts  or  govern  his  passions  often  attracts  more 
homage  than  if  he  led  a  sober  and  honest  life.  The 
single  traits  of  erratic  genius  not  infrequently  gain  in 
splendor  from  their  relief  against  a  background  of 
weaknesses  and  follies. 


56  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

We  might  enumerate  in  Washington  various  traits 
of  mind  and  character,  either  of  which  in  equal  meas- 
ure would  suffice  for  the  fame  of  a  man  who  had 
little  else  that  challenged  approval.  But  what  dis- 
tinguishes Washington  pre-eminentl}^  is,  that  it  is  im- 
«  possible  to  point  out  faults  or  deficiencies  that  marred 
his  work,  detracted  from  his  reputation,  dishonored 
his  life.  The  most  observed  and  best  known  man  in 
the  country  for  the  eight  years  of  the  war,  and  for  the 
other  eight  of  his  presidency,  even  jealousy  and  parti- 
san rancor  could  find  no  pretence  for  the  impeach- 
ment of  his  discretion  or  his  virtue.  His  biographers 
have  seemed  to  revel  in  the  narrative  of  some  two  or 
three  occasions  on  which  he  was  intensely  angry;  as  if, 
like  the  vulnerable  heel  of  Achilles,  they  were  needed 
to  show  that  their  hero  was  still  human. 

But  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  this  roundness  of 
moral  proportions,  this  utter  lack  of  picturesque  diver- 
sity, in  his  character,  must  have  been  the  outcome 
of  strenuous  self-discipline.  His  almost  unruffled 
calmness  and  serenity  were  the  result,  not  of  apathy, 
but  of  self-conquest.  It  was  the  fierce  warfare  and 
decisive  victory  witliin  that  made  him  the  cynosure 
of  all  e3'es,  and  won  for  him  the  homage  of  all  hearts 
that  loved  their  country.  We  know  but  little  of  the 
details  of  his  private  life  for  the  first  forty  years  or 
more;  but  even  the  reverence  of  posterity  has  not 
succeeded  in  wholly  veiling  from  view  the  undoubted 
fact  that  he  was  by  nature  vehement,  impulsive,  head- 
strong, impatient,  passionate,  —  a  man  in  whose  blood 
the  fiery  coursers  might  easily  have  run  riot,  and 
strewed  their  way  with   havoc.      By  far  the  greater 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.    PEABODY.  57 

honor  is  due  to  him  who  so  held  them  under  bit,  rein, 
and  curb,  that  masterly  self-control  under  intensest 
provocation  became  his  foremost  characteristic;  that 
disappointment,  delay,  defeat,  even  treachery,  so  sel- 
dom disturbed  his  equanimity,  spread  a  cloud  over 
his  brow,  or  drew  from  him  a  resentful  or  bitter 
word. 

We  admire  also  in  him  the  even  poise  with  which 
he  bore  his  high  command  in  war  and  in  the  councils 
of  the  nation.  In  mien,  manner,  speech,  intercourse, 
he  was  never  beneath,  and  never  above,  his  place. 
Dignity  without  haughtiness,  firmness  without  obsti- 
nacy, condescension  without  stooping,  gentleness  with- 
out suppleness,  affability  without  undue  familiarity, 
were  blended  in  him  as  in  hardly  any  other  historical 
personage.  No  one  who  could  claim  his  ear  was  re- 
pelled; yet  to  no  one  did  he  let  himself  down.  He 
sought  and  received  advice,  gave  its  full  weight  and 
worth  to  honest  dissent,  yet  never  for  a  moment 
resigned  the  leader's  staff.  The  more  thoroughly  we 
study  the  history  of  the  war,  the  more  manifest  is  it 
that  on  this  one  man  more  than  on  all  beside  depended 
its  successful  end.  Congress  lacked  equally  power 
and  promptness;  the  State  legislatures  were  dilator3% 
and  often  niggardly,  in  provision  for  their  troops; 
exposure  and  privation  brought  portions  of  the  army 
to  the  very  brink  of  revolt  and  secession;  cabals  were 
raised  in  behalf  of  generals  of  more  brilliant  parts  and 
more  boastful  pretensions;  success  repeatedly  hovered 
over  his  banner,  only  to  betray  him  in  the  issue:  yet 
in  every  emergency  he  was  none  the  less  the  tower  of 
strength,  or  rather  the  guiding  pillar  of  the  nation  by 

8 


58  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

day  and  night,  in  cloud  and  fire.  Heart  and  hope 
never  once  forsook  him,  and  his  elastic  courage  sus- 
tained failing  hearts  and  rekindled  flickering  hope. 

His  judgment  of  men,  his  keen  insight  into  charac- 
ter, has  also  its  prominent  place  among  the  sources  of 
his  power.  In  Arnold  indeed,  and  to  some  degree  in 
Gates,  he  was  deceived;  but,  from  the  many  in  whom 
he  reposed  confidence,  it  is  hard  to  add  to  the  list  of 
those  who  betra3^ed  his  trust.  He  recognized  in- 
stantly the  signal  merit  of  Greene,  and  employed  him 
constantly  in  the  most  arduous  and  responsible  ser- 
vice. Putnam,  and  the  other  brave  and  devoted  but 
untrained  generals  whom  he  found  here  on  his  arrival, 
lost  nothing  in  his  regard  by  their  rusticity  of  garb  and 
mien.  Pickering,  than  whom  the  annals  of  our  State 
bear  the  name  of  no  more  ardent  patriot  or  more 
honorable  man,  was  successively  his  secretary,  com- 
missary-general, and  quarter-master,  and  held  in  his 
presidency,  at  one  time  or  another,  the  chief  place  in 
almost  every  department  of  the  public  service.  In 
Hamilton's  very  boyhood  he  discovered  the  man  who 
eclipsed  his  own  military  fame  by  repairing  the  na- 
tion's shattered  credit,  and  establishing  her  financial 
safety  and  efficienc}^  He  understood  every  man's 
capacity,  and  knew  how  to  utilize  it  to  the  utmost. 
Rarest  gift  of  all,  he  knew  what  he  could  not  do, 
and  what  others  could  do  better  than  himself;  and  he 
in  no  respect  appears  greater  than  in  committing  to 
the  most  secure  and  efficient  agency  the  several  por- 
tions of  his  military  and  civil  responsibility,  in  accept- 
ing whatever  service  might  redound  to  the  public 
good,  and  in  the  unstinted  recognition  of  such  ser- 
vice. 


ADPRESS    BY    DR.  ANDREW    P.  PEABODY.  59 

Time  fails  me,  and  so  it  would  were  my  minutes 
hours,  to  complete  the  picture.  Nor  is  there  need; 
for  lives  there  an  American  who  owns  not  his  pri- 
macy, in  war,  in  peace,  in  command,  in  service,  in  un- 
corrupt  integrity,  in  generous  self-devotion,  in  loyalty 
to  freedom,  his  countr}^  and  his  God  ?  Among  the 
dead,  the  heroes  and  statesmen  of  all  times  and  lands, 
his  mighty  shade  rises  pre-eminent,  —  his  name  the 
watchword  of  liberty,  right,  and  law,  revered  wher- 
ever freedom  is  sought  or  cherished,  the  tyrant's  re- 
buke, the  demagogue's  shame,  the  patriot's  synonyme 
for  untarnished  fame  and  unfading  glory. 

This  season  of  commemoration  has  its  voices,  not 
only  of  gratitude  and  gladness,  but  equally  of  admoni- 
tion, it  may  be  of  reproach.  Our  nation  owes  its 
existence,  its  constitution,  its  early  union,  stability, 
progress,  and  prosperity,  under  the  Divine  Providence, 
to  the  great,  wise,  and  good  men  who  built  our  ship  of 
state,  and  stood  at  its  helm  in  the  straits  and  among 
the  shoals  and  quicksands  through  which  it  sailed  into 
the  open  sea.  Where  are  now  our  Washingtons,  Ad- 
amses, Hamiltons,  Jays,  Pickerings.? — the  men  whom 
a  sovereign's  ransom  could  not  bribe,  or  a  people's 
adulation  beguile,  or  the  lure  of  ambition  dazzle  and 
pervert.  Nature  cannot  have  grown  niggardly  of 
her  noble  births,  God  of  his  best  gifts.  But  where  are 
they.?  Unset  jewels  for  the  most  part,  and  incapable 
of  finding  a  setting  under  our  present  political  regime. 
Of  what  avail  is  it  that  we  heap  honors  on  the  illus- 
trious fathers  of  our  republic,  if  we  are  at  no  pains  to 
seek,  for  their  succession,  heirs  of  their  talents  and  their 
virtues?     Yet,    were   Washington  now  living,  —  the 


6o  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL.  • 

very  man  of  whose  praise  we  are  never  weary,  —  does 
an}^  one  suppose  it  possible  for  him  to  be  chosen  to 
the  chief  magistracy?  Would  he  answer  the  ques- 
tions, make  the  compromises,  give  the  pledges,  without 
which  no  national  convention  would  nominate  him? 
Could    he    creep    through     the    tortuous    mole-paths 

through  which  men  now  crawl  into  place  and  grovel 

» 
into  power?     Would  he  mortgage,  expressl}^  or  tacitly, 

the  vast  patronage  of  government  for  the  price  of  his 
election? 

We  sometimes  hear  the  cry,  "  Not  men,  but  meas- 
ures." But,  if  there  be  any  one  lesson  taught  us  by 
our  early  history,  it  is  that  men,  not  measures,  created, 
saved,  exalted,  our  nation.  Corrupt  men  vitiate,  mean 
men  debase,  dishonest  men  pervert;  incompetent  men 
neutralize,  the  best  measures,  if  such  measures  be  even 
possible,  except  as  originated,  directed,  actualized,  by 
the  best  men.  Our  rowers  have  now  brought  us  into 
waters  where  there  are  no  soundings.  It  is  impossible 
to  know,  in  the  absence  of  a  definite  standard  of  value, 
whether  our  national  wealth  is  increasing  or  declining; 
whether  we  are  on  the  ninth  wave  of  towering  pros- 
perity, or  on  the  verge  of  general  bankruptcy.  It  is  an 
ominous  fact,  that  an  immense  proportion  of  individual 
wealth  is  public  debt.  Never  was  there  so  much  need 
as  now  of  the  profoundest  wisdom,  and  an  integrity  be- 
yond bribe,  to  crystallize  our  chaos,  to  disentangle  the 
complexities  of  our  situation,  to  disinthrall  our  indus- 
tries from  legislation  which  protects  by  cramping  and 
crippling,  to  retrench  the  spoils  of  office,  enormous 
when  not  exceeding  legal  limits,  unmeasured  beyond 
them,  and  through  the  entire  hierarchy  of  place  and 


ADDRESS    BY    DR.   ANDREW    P.  PEABODY.  6 1 

trust  to  establish  honesty  and  competency,  not  parti- 
san zeal  and  efficiency,  as  the  essential  qualifications. 

There  is  a  sad  and  disheartening  element  in  the 
pomp  and  splendor,  the  lofty  panegyric  and  fervent 
eulogy,  of  these  centennial  celebrations.  It  was  once 
said  in  keen  reproach  by  Him  who  spake  as  never 
man  spake,  "  Ye  build  the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  and 
garnish  the  sepulchres  of  the  righteous."  It  is,  in 
general,  not  the  age  which  makes  history  that  writes 
it,  —  not  the  age  which  builds  monuments  that  merits 
them.  It  is  in  looking  back  to  a  past  better  than  the 
present  that  men  say,  "  There  were  giants  in  those 
days."  Reverence  and  gratitude  for  a  worthy  ances- 
try characterize,  indeed,  not  unworthy  descendants: 
praise  and  adulation  of  ancestors  beyond  reason  or 
measure  denote  a  degenerate  posterity.  Our  fathers 
have  done  little  for  us  if  their  equals  do  not  now  fill 
their  places.  Unless  their  lineage  be  undebased,  their 
heritage  is  of  little  value. 

Fellow-citizens,  let  us  praise  our  fathers  by  becom- 
ing more  worthy  of  them.  Let  this  season  of  com- 
memoration be  a  revival-season  of  public  and  civic 
virtue.  Let  the  blessed  memories  which  we  rejoice 
to  keep  ever  green  be  enwreathed  afresh  with  high 
resolve  and  earnest  endeavor  to  transmit  the  liberty 
so  dearly  purchased  to  centuries  yet  to  come.  When 
another  centennial  rolls  round,  let  there  be  names 
identified  with  this,  our  country's  second  birth-time, 
that  shall  find  fit  place  in  the  chaplet  of  honor  which 
our  children  will  weave.  Some  such  names  will  be 
there,  —  Lincoln,  Andrew,  the  heroes  of  our  civil  con- 
flict, the  men  whose  prudent  counsels  and  diplomatic 


62  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

skill  in  that  crisis  warded  off  worse  perils  than  those 
of  armed  rebellion.  Let  these  be  re-enforced  by  yet 
other  names  that  shall  be  written  indelibly  on  the  pil- 
lars of  om-  reconstructed  Union.  Fellow-citizens, 
heirs  of  renowned  fathers,  look  to  it  that  in  your  hands 
their  trust  be  fulfilled,  —  that  the  travail  of  their  soul 
have  the  only  recompense  they  sought. 


THE     DINNER. 


At  the  close  of  Dr.  Peabody's  address,  the  City  Govern- 
ment and  guests  proceeded  in  the  same  order  as  before  to 
Memorial  Hall,  which  was  reached  at  a  quarter  before 
three  o'clock  ;  and,  the  doors  of  the  magnificent  dining-hall 
being  thrown  open,  the  holders  of  tickets,  including  many 
ladies,  entered,  and  took  seats  at  the  tables.  Five  long 
tables,  extending  the  length  of  the  hall,  were  laden  with  a 
sumptuous  dinner,  provided  by  John  P.  Farmer,  Jr.,  stew- 
ard of  the  hall,  and  were  ornamented  with  a  profusion  of 
elegant  bouquets ;  and  the  hall  itself  was  ornamented  with 
pot-plants,  hanging-baskets,  and  trailing  vines  ;  while  from 
every  side  the  painted  and  sculptured  portraits  of  scores  of 
distinguished  officers  or  benefactors  of  the  University  looked 
down  upon  the  festive  scene. 

After  the  divine  blessing  had  been  asked  by  Rev.  Asa 
BuLLARD,  an  hour  was  spent  in  enjoying  the  good  things 
set  before  them  ;  the  band,  which  was  stationed  in  the  west 
gallery,  meanwhile,  and  subsequently  at  frequent  intervals, 
enlivening  the  exercises  with  music. 

At  the  close  of  the  dinner,  Mayor  Bradford  called  the 
company  to  order,  and  spoke  briefly  as  follows  :  — 


64  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 


OPENING   ADDRESS    OF    HIS    HONOR    MAYOR 
BRADFORD. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  By  the  kind  courtesy  of  the 
college  authorities,  we  have  met  here  in  Memorial  Hall  to 
complete  the  official  ceremonies  of  the  day.  It  is  unneces- 
sary for  me  to  enlarge  upon  the  memorable  event  which  we 
to-da}'  commemorate.  We  have  listened  to  the  inspiring 
words  of  our  poet  and  orator ;  have  had  recalled  the  cir- 
cumstances attending  the  assumption  of  command  of  the 
army  by  Washington,  with  the  leading  events  of  that 
period,  so  full  of  interest  to  us,  the  inheritors  of  their 
successes  ;  have  added  one  to  the  glorious  round  of  centen- 
nials ;  and,  in  so  doing,  have  rekindled  within  ourselves 
that  spirit  which  actuated  our  patriot  fathers.  Having 
those  present  with  us  this  afternoon,  who,  by  word  and 
deed,  have  been  rendered  illustrious  in  civil  and  military 
life,  and  hoping  that  remarks  may  be  elicited  from  them 
adding  further  to  the  interest  of  the  occasion,  I  now  have 
the  pleasure  to  introduce  to  you,  as  toast-master,  the  Hon. 
George  P.  Sanger,  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Sanger  said,  — 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  In  response  to  your  call,  I  shall  add 
nothing  with  any  particular  words  of  my  own,  except  to 
read  the  regular  toasts  that  have  been  prepared  for  the 
occasion,  and  to  call  upon  those  who  are  expected  to 
respond  to  them. 

The  toast-master  then  announced  the  toasts,  and 
responses  were  made  as  given  below. 

I.   ''''The  Memory  of  Washingtoji^ 

In  response,  the  company  rose,  and  remained  stand- 
ing while  the  band  played  the  Prayer  from  "  Medea." 


THE    DINNER.  65 


3.    "  The  United  States  of  America^ 
RESPONSE    BY    HON.    GEORGE    S.    BOUTWELL, 

United-States  Senator  from  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  It  is  a  fortunate  incident,  as  well  as  a 
great  fact,  in  the  history  of  this  ancient  town,  that  here 
Washington,  the  most  important  man  of  the  Revolution 
and  the  greatest  personage  in  American  history,  took  com- 
mand of  the  colonial  forces.  It  was  the  first  great  fact  in 
our  history  which  showed  forth  the  purpose  of  the  people 
to  vindicate,  first,  their  rights  as  Englishmen  ;  and,  having 
so  vindicated  their  rights,  to  establish  a  government  in 
which  those  rights  should  be  recognized,  confirmed,  and 
perpetuated  by  the  supreme,  vigilant,  and  constantly  exer- 
cised power  of  the  people.  The  first  of  our  historians  has 
said  in  private,  and  in  one  of  the  most  charming  chapters 
of  his  history  has  also  plainly  declared,  that  Washington 
is,  beyond  all  question,  the  first  man,  intellectually  and 
morally,  which  this  country  has  produced  ;  and  of  this,  when 
you  have  made  all  allowance  for  the  charming  lustre  with 
which  time  and  history  crown  great  characters,  I  think 
there  can  be  no  doubt.  But  his  was  not  a  character  in 
which  peculiarities  shone  pre-eminently  :  it  was  a  character 
so  well  rounded,  so  controlled  by  the  highest  wisdom,  that 
under  all  circumstances,  and  in  every  exigency  of  his 
private  life,  and  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs,  he 
was  able  to  do  that,  which,  when  revised  by  the  sober  judg- 
ment of  the  people,  and  subjected  to  the  severest  criticism, 
seems  to  have  been  the  best  thing  under  the  circumstances. 
It  is  in  the  nature  of  things  that  men  not  so  highly  endowed 
in  every  direction  are  able  to  accomplish  great  results  upon 
particular  occasions  ;  indeed,  there  are  times  when  men,  by 
accident  or  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  achieve  what 
seems  to  be  a  great  result  in  a  particular  case  :  but  when, 
through  a  long  period  of  years,  and  in  all  the  various  con- 
ditions of  life,  under  circumstances  which  oftentimes  have 


66  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

apparently  the  force  of  exigency,  a  man  is  able  to  so  conduct 
himself  as  to  stand  the  test  of  the  judgment  of  the  present 
and  the  future,  there  can  no  longer  be  a  question  as  to  the 
greatness  of  his  faculties,  or  completeness  of  his  powers. 
And  such  was  Washington.  As  we  close  the  first  century 
of  our  national  life,  and  attempt  to  penetrate  the  future,  or 
at  least  to  consider  whether  there  is  more  which  encourag^es 
hope  or  excites  apprehension,  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  say 
for  myself,  after  considerable  experience  in  public  affairs 
and  some  knowledge  of  the  people  of  my  native  State  and 
of  the  country,  that  I  am  neither  too  timid  nor  too  despond- 
ing to  look  with  hope  upon  the  future,  and  without  serious 
apprehensions  as  to  the  character  which  this  country  is 
destined  to  have,  either  when  tested  by  the  individual  men 
who  compose  and  control  it,  or  by  the  capacity  of  the  people 
as  a  whole,  or  through  their  servants  whom  they  may  select 
to  give  guidance  and  control  to  public  affairs,  and  which 
shall  enable  those  who  stand  here  a  century  hence  to  look 
with  as  much  satisfaction  upon  the  century  which  we  now 
open  as  we  now  look  upon  the  century  which  has  just 
closed.  That  there  have  been,  and  that  there  always  will 
be,  in  the  management  of  public  affairs,  great  errors,  much 
to  criticise,  and  much  to  condemn,  is  a  truth  incident  to 
human  existence.  Errors  are  to  be  regretted,  and  their 
efiects  should  be  removed  as  far  and  as  fast  as  possible  : 
but  he  must  be  a  misanthrope  who  looks  only  upon  errors ; 
who  sees  only  the  dark  side  of  the  picture ;  who  sees 
only  the  clouds,  and  cannot  imagine  or  believe  that  they 
have  a  silver  lining.  I  say  this  here  and  now,  because  I 
think  it  of  the  highest  importance  that  the  young  men  of  the 
country,  especially  those  who  have  advantages  of  wealth, 
and  opportunities  for  education,  should  see  and  feel,  as  I 
believe,  that,  in  an  attempt  to  discharge  public  duties  through 
the  acceptance  of  public  office,  they  can  maintain  their  in- 
tegrity ;  that  they  can  preserve  their  self-respect;  and  that 
they  can  pass  through  the  fires  and  temptations  of  public 
life  without  the  smell  of  the  smoke  of  corruption  upon  their 


THE    DINNER.  6/ 

garments.  If  this  be  not  so,  then,  indeed,  the  prospect  for 
the  future  is  dark,  and  I  may  say  it  is  nearly  hopeless. 
But  it  is  not  so.  The  recent  dead  testify  that  it  is  not  so. 
Lincoln  and  Stanton  and  Sumner,  from  their  graves  and  by 
their  lives,  bear  witness  that  it  is  not  so.  And  I  wish  to 
say  to  the  3'oung  men  who  are  entering  upon  the  theatre  of 
action,  and  have  an  opportunity  to  choose  the  way  in  which 
they  will  go.  Look  at  the  lives  and  the  records  of  these  men, 
imitate  their  example,  and  not  be  deterred  by  instances  of  a 
different  character,  which  we  desire  to  blot  from  the  page 
of  history  and  the  memory  of  men  :  and  though  public 
duties  when  understood,  and  the  responsibilities  which  they 
carry  with  them,  are  not  attractive,  there  still  is  no  way  in 
which  a  young  man  of  capacity  and  integrity  can  perform 
so  signal  service  to  his  age  and  race  as  by  accepting  such 
opportunities  as  may  be  presented  to  him  for  the  performance 
of  those  duties  ;  and  the  opportunity  to  make  laws,  to  frame, 
modif}^  or  found  institutions,  is  the  greatest  of  human  pur- 
suits. Measured  by  any  other  merely  secular  standard, 
such  labors  rise  high  above  every  thing  which  concerns  the 
fortunes  of  men  in  this  world.  Mr.  Mayor,  these  remarks 
are  not  directly  in  response  to  the  sentiment  which  preceded 
the  announcement  of  my  name  ;  but  if  I  have  spoken  at 
all  in  the  interest  of  good  government,  in  the  interest  of 
intelligence,  and  integrity  in  the  management  of  public 
affairs,  then  I  have  said  something  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States.  The  United  States  are  more  closely  united  now 
than  ever  before.  Every  nation  has  a  civilization  in  which 
there  is  a  unit ;  otherwise  it  cannot  last.  Our  nation,  for 
nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century,  moved  in  two  directions, 
under  the  force  of  opposite  ideas  tending  to  different  forms 
of  civilization.  To-day  a  deeper,  stronger,  more-pervading, 
better  security  for  the  future  than  are  the  opinions  we  enter- 
tain, or  the  hopes  we  cherished,  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
hereafter  there  is  a  unit  in  the  civilization  of  this  country ; 
and  a  unit  in  the  civilization  of  a  country  secures  unity  in 
the  government.     Therefore,  while  the  civilization  shall  be 


68  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

a  unit,  the  government  will  be  a  unit ;  and  this  government 
to-day  rests  upon  two  great  ideas,  —  public  equality  and 
public  education.  When  I  reflect,  as  I  do  with  gratitude 
and  pride,  that  from  the  halls  of  this  college,  and  from 
those  of  William  and  Mary's  College  in  Virginia,  went 
forth  the  men  who  embodied  in  their  lives  the  doctrines  and 
principles  of  the  Revolution,  I  have  faith  in  the  schools,  in 
the  institutions  of  learning,  and  in  the  education  of  the 
people ;  and,  having  faith  in  schools  and  institutions  of 
learning,  I  trust  that  we,  and  those  w^ho  come  after  us, 
will  adopt  the  language  of  our  own  Constitution  and  the 
language  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  on  the  walls  of  the 
college  to-day,  and  that  it  will  be  the  guide  of  our  conduct 
in  private  and  public  affairs. 

Music  by  the  Band, —  "America." 

3.  '•''TJie    Commonwealih  of  Massachusetts^ 

RESPONSE    BY    HIS    EXCELLENCY    GOVERNOR   WILLIAM 

GASTON. 

Mr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  The  city  of 
Cambridge  certainly  has  much  to  be  proud  of.  Her  great 
institution  of  learning  has  for  more  than  two  centuries  been 
sending  forth  to  the  world  men  who  have  been  distinguished 
in  science  and  in  letters.  It  has  furnished  men  who  have 
made  our  history  from  the  foundations  of  our  State  and 
Republic,  —  men  who  have  carried  the  banners  and  bless- 
ings of  a  Christian  civilization  from  ocean  to  ocean ;  and 
from  her  own  citizens  Cambridge  has  furnished  men  who 
have  been  distinguished  as  scholars,  soldiers,  and  states- 
men. Indeed,  I  know  of  no  one  place  in  the  country 
which  has  furnished  so  many  men  who  have  been  leaders 
in  the  cause  of  religion,  morals,  science,  and  patriotism. 
To-day  she  celebrates  the  coming  wathin  her  borders  of  the 
great  leader  of  the  American  army  of  the  Revolution,  —  a 
man  upon  whom  the  language  of  eulogy  has  been  exhausted. 


THE    DINNER.  69 

His  fame  is  sure,  and  he  needs  not  the  aid  of  our  lips ;  but 
we,  by  admiring  and  contemplating  his  character,  may 
become  wiser,  stronger,  and  better.  Such  I  understand  to 
be  the  meaning  of  this  celebration  :  and  such  a  purpose 
needs  no  commendation  ;  for  it  carries  with  it  its  own  justi- 
fication, and  even  eulogy.  And  even  at  this  time,  when 
there  is  an  opportunity  for  making  our  Federal  Union  more 
compact  and  united  than  ever,  it  is  well,  by  celebrations 
like  these,  to  contemplate  the  actions  of  men  of  preceding 
generations,  in  whose  glory  and  fame  all  sections  of  the 
country  have  a  common  interest  and  pride.  Then  the 
celebration  ceases  to  be  a  pageant,  and  is  full  of  significance 
and  meaning.  I  express  much  for  old  Cambridge  when  I 
hope  that  she  will  give  to  the  future  as  much  as  she  has  given 
to  the  past.  A  hundred  years  ago,  a  Virginian  came  to 
Massachusetts  :  he  came  as  the  leader  of  our  armies.  The 
man  and  the  event  were  alike  majestic.  He  was  welcomed 
to  Massachusetts.  Massachusetts  and  Virginia  were  then 
friends.  I  trust  that  kindred  feelings  exist  to-day.  But 
neither  Massachusetts  nor  Virginia,  neither  North  nor  South, 
are  worthy  of  him  and  his  fame,  unless  they  determine  to 
preserve  those  institutions  which  he  did  so  much  to  create. 

Music,  —  "Sweet  Home." 

4.  ''The   Old  Thirteetir 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    JOSIAH    OUINCY,    OF    BOSTON. 

Mr.  Chairman,  —  It  is  almost  impossible  for  the  citizens 
of  a  republic  whose  domain  extends  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific  sea  to  realize  the  small  extent  and  sparse  popu- 
lation of  the  thirteen  colonies,  when,  a  hundred  yeai's  ago, 
Washington  drew  his  sword  on  the  plain  of  Cambridge. 
Albany  was  almost  a  frontier-town,  the  Six  Nations  still 
existing  on  the  Mohawk.  The  Monongahela  and  the  Ohio, 
with  the  vast  regions  beyond,  now  the  seats  of  noble  cities 
and  a  dense  population,  were  occupied  by  savages  of  difier- 


^0  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

ent  tribes.  It  is  equally  difficult  for  us  to  realize  the  posi- 
tion of  Washington.  The  sparse  population  of  the  colonies 
were  untrained  to  arms ;  they  were  separated  by  great 
distances,  and  wanted  what  Milton  calls  the  "two  main 
nerves  of  war,  — iron  and  gold."  The  dark,  impenetrable 
future  loomed  before  him.  By  drawing  that  sword,  he 
committed  himself  to  the  cause.  The  result  miorht  be 
victory,  or  it  might  be  a  soldier's  death  in  battle,  or  a 
traitor's  death  on  the  scaffold.  Besides  a  consciousness  of 
duty,  he  had  but  one  support.  The  plains  of  Lexington 
and  Concord,  and,  but  a  few  days  before,  the  heights  of 
Bunker,  had  given  assurance  that  there  were  brave  men, 
who  were  willing  to  serve  with  him,  to  fight  with  him,  and, 
if  need  were,  to  die  with  him,  for  the  liberty  of  their  coun- 
try. Such  was  his  position  on  that  day  ;  but  he  was  destined 
to  receive  aid  and  comfort  from  a  most  unexpected  source. 

In  the  gayest  court  of  Europe  there  was  a  young  noble- 
man of  the  highest  rank  and  of  ample  fortune.  He  had 
just  been  united  to  one  of  the  fairest  daughters  of  France, 
who,  in  subsequent  trials,  proved  that  the  strength  of  her 
mind  corresponded  with  the  loveliness  of  her  person.  With 
the  chivalric  spirit  of  his  race,  this  young  man  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  weaker  party.  How  weak  that  party  was  he 
well  knew.  In  the  language  of  Edward  Everett  (by  which, 
in  his  presence  fifty  years  ago,  an  audience  was  electrified, 
a  few  steps  from  where  we  stand),  "  When  he  applied  to  our 
commissioners  in  Paris  for  a  passage  in  the  first  ship  they 
should  despatch  to  America,  they  were  obliged  to  tell  him, 
so  poor  and  abject  was  then  our  dear  native  land,  that  they 
did  not  possess  the  means  or  the  credit  to  procure  a  vessel 
in  all  the  ports  of  France.  'Then,'  exclaimed  the  youth- 
ful hero,  '  I  will  procure  my  own.'  And  it  is  a  literal  fact, 
that  when  all  America  w'as  too  poor  to  give  him  even  a 
passage  to  our  shores,  he  left,  in  his  tender  youth,  the 
bosom  of  home,  of  domestic  happiness,  of  wealth  and  rank, 
to  plunge  into  the  dust  and  blood  of  our  inauspicious 
struggle." 


THE    DINNER.  •       71 

To  the  great  majority  of  my  hearers  General  Lafayette 
is  only  an  historical  character  ;  and  perhaps  I  cannot  occupy 
the  few  moments  allotted  to  me  more  agreeably  or  appro- 
priately than  in  recalling  some  of  the  incidents  connected 
with  his  visit  fifty  years  ago.  As  aide  to  Governor  Lincoln, 
I  had  the  most  favorable  opportunity  to  witness  the  cere- 
monies connected  with  laying  the  corner-stone  of  Bunker- 
hill  Monument,  which,  as  you  all  remember,  were  honored 
by  Lafayette's  presence. 

The  17th  of  June,  1825,  dawned  with  uncommon  splendor. 
The  State  of  Massachusetts  had  voted  a  sum  sufficient  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  every  soldier  of  the  Revolution  who 
reported  himself  on  that  day  ;  and  almost  every  survivor  of 
that  venerable  band  who  resided  in  New  England  had 
availed  himself  of  her  bounty.  From  my  official  relations, 
I  witnessed  the  meeting  of  these  veterans.  They  had  parted 
nearly  half  a  century  before.  Their  subsequent  lot  in  life, 
or  even  their  continued  existence,  had  been  to  each  other 
unknown.  They  met  and  recognized  one  another  with 
almost  the  feelings  of  boys.  The  recollections  of  the  past 
pressed  upon  their  memories  ;  and  the  flame  of  life,  that  had 
become  almost  extinguished  in  their  bosoms,  flashed  out 
with  its  early  brightness  before  it  expired.  It  is  an  histori- 
cal fact,  that,  when  Washington  decided  to  storm  the  two 
redoubts  that  enfiladed  the  approaches  to  Yorktown,  he  de- 
tailed two  storming-parties,  the  one  composed  of  Frenchmen 
and  the  other  of  Americans,  and  gave  the  command  of  the 
latter  to  Lafayette  as  a  general  in  the  American  service. 
One  of  the  veterans,  when  he  was  introduced,  asked  the 
general  if  he  did  not  remember  him  ;  and  added,  "  I  was  next 
but  one  to  you  when  you  mounted  the  ramparts  at  York- 
town.  Sergeant  Smith,  who  was  between  us,  received  a 
musket-ball  in  his  head,  and  fell  just  as  we  mounted." — "I 
remember  the  circumstance  perfectly,"  responded  the  gen- 
eral. "Poor  Sergeant  Smith!  poor  Sergeant  Smith!  But 
then,"  he  added,  with  an  eye  gleaming  with  its  earlier 
spirit,  "  z^cr  got  into  the  fort  first:  zve  heat  the  Frenchiiicn, 


72    .  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

my  boy;  zve  heat  the  Frenchmen!'''  Such  incidents  were 
like  removing  the  ashes  that  covered  the  spark  of  that  love 
of  liberty  and  military  zeal  that  once  set  this  continent  in 
a  flame.  Forty  years  before,  the  patriot  souls  of  these  vet- 
erans scorned  the  advice  not  to  disband  until  the  nation  had 
paid  them  for  the  services  they  had  rendered  ;  and  they  had 
left  the  army  poor,  and,  from  their  military  habits,  unfitted 
to  prosper  in  the  civil  occupations  of  life.  Many  of  them 
had  dragged  on  a  despised  and  miserable  existence,  almost 
paupers  in  the  land  they  had  redeemed.  The  visit  of 
Lafayette,  and  the  recognition  through  him,  and  with  him, 
of  their  services,  was  to  them  like  the  breaking-out  of  th^ 
setting  sun  after  a  day  of  storms,  revealing  the  beauty  of 
the  land  for  which  they  had  suffered,  and  giving  them  an 
assurance  of  its  brighter  to-morrow. 

The  masonic  and  military  show  had  then  never  been 
surpassed  ;  but  the  great  interest  of  the  scene  arose  from  the 
presence  of  the  survivors  of  the  army  of  the  Revolution. 
Of  these,  two  hundred  officers  and  soldiers  led  the  way,  and 
forty  who  had  fought  on  Bunker's  Hill  followed  in  carriages. 
Lafayette  was  the  only  staft-officer  of  that  venerable  band 
that  survived  ;  and  seven  captains,  three  lieutenants,  and  one 
ensign,  were  all  the  other  officers  that  remained. 

After  laying  the  corner-stone  in  due  masonic  order,  Mr. 
Webster  arose.  He  was  then  in  the  perfection  of  his  manly 
beauty,  fully  realizing  Milton's  description  of  a  superhuman 

statesman  :  — 

"  With  grave 
Aspect  he  rose,  and  in  his  rising  seemed 
A  pillar  of  state  :  deep  on  his  front  engraven 
Deliberation  sat,  and  public  care  ; 
And  princely  counsel  in  his  face  yet  shone, 
Majestic.  .  .  .  Sage  he  stood, 
With  Atlantean  shoulders  fit  to  bear 
The  weight  of  mightiest  monarchies  :   his  look 
Drew  audience  and  attention  still  as  night, 
Or  summer's  noontide  air,  while  thus  he  spoke." 

No  printed  page,  no  effort  of  the  pencil,  could  convey  any 
adequate  idea  of  the  effect  of  his  eloquence,  or  the  scene  that 


THE    DINNER.  73 

witnessed  it,  —  the  uncounted  multitude  ;  the  distant  city  ; 
the  ocean  beyond;  the  "oak  leviathans"  anchored  at  its 
base  ;  the  presence  of  those  who  fifty  years  before  stood 
where  they  then  stood,  with  their  brothers  and  neighbors, 
shoulder  to  shoulder  in  strife  for  their  country  ;  and,  above 
all,  of  him,  who,  connected  with  both  hemispheres  and  two 
generations,  had  conducted  the  electric  spark  of  liberty 
from  the  New  World  to  the  Old.  As  the  orator  carried  us  on 
from  the  glories  of  the  past  and  the  duties  of  the  present 
to  the  destinies  of  the  future,  he  enlarged  our  conceptions, 
■and  extended  our  ideas  over  the  whole  vast  field  in  which 
we  were  called  to  act  "to  our  country,  our  whole  country, 
and  nothing  but  our  country." 

But  there  was  one  exercise  that  by  association  filled  the 
mind  even  more  than  the  eloquence  of  Daniel  Webster. 
The  occasion  was,  of  course,  to  be  sanctified  by  prayer  ;  and 
the  venerable  Joseph  Thaxter,  chaplain  to  Prescott's  own 
regiment,  rose  to  officiate.  Fifty  years  before,  he  had  stood 
upon  that  spot,  and,  in  the  presence  of  many  for  whom  that 
morning  sun  was  to  know  no  setting,  called  on  Him  who 
could  save  by  many  or  by  few  for  his  aid  in  the  approaching 
struggle.  His  presence  brought  the  scene  vividl}^  to  our 
view.  We  could  almost  hear  the  thunder  of  the  broadsides 
that  ushered  in  that  eventful  morning.  We  could  almost 
see  Prescott  and  Warren  and  their  gallant  host  pausing 
from  their  labors  to  listen  to  an  invocation  to  Him  before 
whom  many  ere  nightfall  were  to  appear.  We  could  almost 
realize  the  anxieties  that  must  have  filled  the  minds  of  pa- 
triots before  that  first  decisive  conflict.  Every  thing  else  had 
changed  :  nothing  remained  the  same  but  the  Being  before 
whom  we  bowed.  He  alone  was  the  same,  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  for  ever. 

After  the  ceremonies  on  Bunker's  Hill,  I  had  the  privilege 
of  attending  General  Lafayette  thi^ough  Massachusetts  ;  and, 
occupying  the  same  carriage,  I  had  opportunities  for  long 
and  most  interesting  conversations.  His  memory  of  past 
transactions   was   perfect;   and  he  seemed  to  take  a   most 


74  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

benevolent  pleasure  in  gratifying  my  curiosity  by  describing 
scenes  through  which  he  had  passed,  and  the  distinguished 
men  and  women  with  whom  he  had  been  associated.  It 
was  impossible  to  realize  that  the  quiet  and  elegant  gentle- 
man at  my  side  could  have  been  the  one  who  in  the  times 
of  the  French  Revolution  rode  upon  the  storm,  and,  by 
kissing  her  hand,  saved  the  beautiful  Queen  of  France  from 
an  infuriated  mob.  Time  forbids  me  to  recount  the  amusing 
and  interesting  incidents  connected  with  that  journey. 

Shortly  after  that  visit,  Lafayette  returned  to  France  to 
take  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  revolution  that  placed  Louis 
Philippe  on  the  throne.     When  last  in  Paris,  I  made  a  pil- 
grimage to  his  tomb.     He  lies  in  the   cemetery  of  Picpus, 
which  is  connected  with  the  garden  of  a  nunnery  belonging  to 
the  Sisters  of  the  Sacred  Heart.    As  you  enter  from  the  street 
under  the  massive  stone  gateway,  you  seem  to  have  gone 
back  for  centuries.     The  whole  appearance  of  the  building 
and  the  grounds  impress  you  with  their  extreme  antiquity. 
It  seems  like  a  little  eddy  that  revolves  slowly  in  a  narrow 
circle,  while  the  great  stream  of  time  rushes  rapidly  by. 
We  entered  the  chapel  of  the  convent :  on  both  sides  of  the 
altar  were  kneeling  nuns,  who  were  relieved  as  regularly 
as  soldiers.     This  has  continued  for  centuries.     The  storms 
of  war  or  the  earthquake  of  revolution  may  have  convulsed 
the  rest  of  the  metropolis ;  but  before  this  altar,  by  day  and 
by  night,  without  cessation,  prayers  have  been  offered  for 
the  happiness  of  the  living  and  for  the  souls  of  the  departed. 
I  passed  through  the  lofty  walls  that  enclose  the  garden, 
and,  at  the  end,  was  ushered  into  the  cemetery.     It  is  the 
resting-place  of  the  old  aristocracy  of  France.     Every  tomb 
is  covered  by  a  marble  slab,  and  every  one  bears  some 
historic   name.      At    the   extremity,  one    has  this  inscrip- 
tion :  — 

"Here  lies  Gilbert  Motier  Lafayette, 

Lieutenant-General  and  Deputy. 

Born  at  Auvergne  a.d.  1757: 

Married  Mad^-  Noailles  1776; 

Died  1834. 

May  he  rest  in  Peace." 


THE    DINNER,  75 

It  bears  no  record  that  he  ever  visited  America.  Twenty 
years  ago,  at  a  meeting  of  Americans  in  the  city  of  Rome 
held  in  honor  of  the  birthday  of  the  father  of  our  country,  I 
mentioned  the  fact  that  no  monument  had  ever  been  erected 
in  honor  of  his  friend  and  adopted  son.  A  resolution  was 
passed,  and  a  subscription  commenced,  to  erect  an  equestrian 
statue  to  the  friend  of  America  in  the  city  of  Paris.  On 
application,  however,  through  our  minister,  to  learn  whether 
such  a  monument  would  be  permitted,  we  received  a  reply 
in  the  negative.  The  name  of  Lafayette  might  have  con- 
jured up  a  spirit  that  would  have  shaken  the  throne  of 
Napoleon.  No  statue,  no  inscription  in  brass  or  marble, 
records  what  Lafayette  did  for  the  freedom  of  America.  But 
there  is  a  monument  whose  base  extends  from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific  sea,  whose  apex  rises  higher  and  higher  as  it 
marks  the  progress  of  liberty  protected  by  law.  On  its 
sides  are  inscribed  many  names  that  shall  be  immortal ; 
but,  above  all,  most  conspicuous  are  those  of  our  Nation's 
Father  and  our  Nation's  Friend. 

Music,  —  "  Auld  Lang  Syne." 


5.   "  The  Army  and  Navy  of  the  lT7iited  States." 
RESPONSE    BY   GENERAL   CHARLES    DEVENS,   Jr., 

of  Worcester. 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  It  is  quite  unexpected  that  I  find  myself 
here  this  afternoon  ;  but  it  is  as  pleasant  as  it  is  unexpected. 
The  only  alloy  to  it  is  the  fact  that  I  am  expected  to  stand 
up  here  three  or  four  minutes  and  talk.  A  few  moments 
ago  I  was  requested  to  respond  to  a  toast  to  the  judiciary  ; 
and  now  it  seems  that  the  toast-master  has  called  upon  me 
to  respond  to  a  sentiment  to  the  army  and  navy.  I  am 
too  well  acquainted  with  the  authority  which  the  toast- 
master  of  a  feast  is  to  exercise,  and  I  am  entirely  willing  to 
submit  to  his  will,  which  is  absolute  as  that  of  the  captain 
upon  the  quarter-deck.     I  rise  to  cordially  respond  to  the 


^6  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

sentiment :  certainly  none  could  be  more  appropriate  to  the 
place  where  we  stand  ;  for  it  was  here  that  the  army  and 
navy  were  created.  I  thank  the  corporation  of  the  cit}-  of 
Cambridge  that  it  has  not  allowed  this  great  and  important 
day  to  pass  without  due  recognition,  and  that  it  has  called 
us  together  in  this  place,  which  is  so  fragrant  with  Revolu- 
tionary reminiscences,  to  commune  together.  We  are  in 
the  great  historic  county  of  Middlesex,  —  the  historic 
county  of  Massachusetts,  where  the  three  great  steps  to- 
wards the  independence  of  these  States  were  made.  At 
Lexington  and  Concord,  Massachusetts  was  alone.  There, 
alone,  she  lifted  her  lion  head  in  the  stern  defence  of 
liberty.  At  Bunker  Hill,  the  States  of  New  England  had 
gathered  by  her  side ;  and  there  all  the  colonies  stood 
together  in  their  resistance  to  British  power.  The  third 
step  came  when  the  United  Colonies  of  North  America 
were  represented  here  b}'  the  consolidation,  by  the  act  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  of  this  army  of  New  England 
into  the  Continental  army,  and  by  the  occasion  when  Wash- 
ington, as  Commander-in-Chief,  drew  his  sword  under  the 
tree  around  which  we  walked  to-day.  The  sword  that  flashed 
in  the  .sunlight  represented  the  union  of  the  colonies  of 
North  America.  It  is  in  this  capacity  that  I  love  to  remem- 
ber him  as  representing  the  union  of  these  States.  From 
the  moment  he  arrived,  the  army  of  Massachusetts,  the 
army  of  New  England,  bravely  and  nobly  as  they  had 
done,  were  merged  in  the  Continental  Army.  Massachu- 
setts, the  great  State  of  the  Revolution,  —  I  speak  now  by 
the  record  and  the  book,  —  which  furnished  to  the  Conti- 
nental Army  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  men  who  fought 
in  it,  from  that  time  consented  to  be  a  member  of  the 
Union,  and  that  her  soldiers  should  be  led  by  officers  who 
were  appointed  by  the  Continental  Congress.  As  we 
progress  with  the  review  of  the  character  of  Washington, 
we  see  him  everywhere  associated  with  the  union  of  the 
States.  When  the  great  war  was  done,  when  those 
years    of    anxiety    and    despondency    succeeded,    before 


THE    DINNER. 


n 


a  regular  government  could  be  formed,  when  we  looked 
about  in  fear  lest  we  were  to  become  mere  discordant 
States,  when  that  great  convention  came  together  which 
made  us  a  nation  and  a  people,  Washington  was  its  presi- 
dent. When  that  Constitution  went  into  operation,  after  the 
long  debates  that  had  followed,  the  president  chosen  under 
that  Constitution  to  administer  its  civil  powers  was  Wash- 
ington ;  and  the  event  that  we  celebrate  to-day  represents 
the  union  of  these  States  as  the  United  States.  Grand 
and  proud  as  we  have  the  right  to  be  here  in  Middlesex 
and  Massachusetts  as  represented  at  Concord  and  Lexing- 
ton, and  in  New  England  as  represented  at  Bunker  Hill, 
yet,  when  we  have  all  come  together  under  the  great  flag 
of  a  united  people,  we  still  have  the  right  to  be  more  proud 
that  it  was  in  our  old  county  that  this  occurred.  It  was 
with  great  regret  that  I  reached  the  tent  where  we  held  our 
exercises  only  at  the  conclusion  of  the  address  of  the  orator 
of  the  occasion.  No  nobler  subject  could  be  chosen  than 
that  which  he  selected,  —  "  The  Character  of  Washington." 
Surely  there  is  no  nobler  subject  for  contemplation  than  the 
life  of  a  truly  great,  trul}-  brave,  and  honest  man.  When 
we  speak  of  him,  we  seem  to  lift  ourselves  up  into  a  calmer 
and  serener  atmospljere. 

In  that  era  of  romance  that  preceded  the  coming  of 
the  Chrisdan  religion,  —  that  world  which  was  peopled 
with  gods  and  goddesses,  —  it  was  fabled  that  the  heroes 
were  demi-gods.  Raised  above  the  race  of  man,  and 
yet  not  so  far  but  that  their  example  might  be  imitated,  they 
united  man  to  the  immortal  gods  themselves,  "  enthroned 
upon  their  sacred  seats,"  and  by  their  example  sought  to 
elevate  him  to  a  higher  and  nobler  life.  So  to-dav  with  us 
in  the  recollection  of  great,  heroic  lives ;  in  the  contem- 
plation of  great,  heroic  souls.  Though  the  dust  of  the 
struggle  is  upon  us  as  we  stand  mingling  in  the  fierce 
conflict  of  the  world's  arena,  by  their  example  we  are 
inspired  to  a  higher  and  purer  existence.  When  we  re- 
member at  what  a  price  this  liberty  was  achieved,  let  us 


78  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

endeavor  to  render  the  homage  which  the  orator  of  to-day 
has  desired  we  should  render  to  the  men  by  whom  it  was 
achieved,  by  striving  to  imitate  their  patriotism  and  self- 
devotion.  To  the  corruptions  that  seem  always  destined 
to  come  into  the  administration  of  great  states,  as  the  dry- 
rot  eats  into  the  strong  oak-timbers  of  our  mighty  ships, 
let  us  show  ourselves  stern  and  implacable  foes  ;  to  the 
luxury  that  enervates  nations,  let  us  oppose  the  simple 
dignity  of  manly  and  laborious  toil  in  our  respective  spheres 
of  duty ;  and  let  us  stand  together  always  in  honest  love 
and  regard  for  all  our  fellow-citizens,  no  matter  what  their 
position  may  be,  whether  high  or  humble,  —  no  matter  what 
their  race  or  color,  or  previous  condition. 

•  Music,  —  "  The  Red,  White,  and  Blue." 

6.    '■^Harvard    Utziversity." 
RESPONSE    BY    CHARLES    W.    ELIOT, 

President  of  Harvard  University. 

Mr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  Harvard  Col- 
lege bore  its  full  share  of  the  sacrifices  which  the  Revolu- 
tion demanded.  Its  income  was  reduced ;  its  books  and 
apparatus  were  scattered  in  private  houses  in  Andover, 
Concord,  and  Woburn,  for  two  years;  and  its  buildings 
were  seriously  damaged  by  the  troops  who  occupied  them 
during  the  long  investment  of  Boston.  But  whatever  losses 
and  hardships  the  college  suffered  during  the  Revolution 
were  gladly  borne  ;  for  then,  as  ever  since,  the  College  was 
heart  and  soul  on  the  side  of  liberty.  Its  government 
was  of  the  patriot  party  ;  its  president  was  an  outspoken 
advocate  of  popular  rights  ;  and  many  of  the  foremost  lead- 
ers of  the  people  were  sons  of  the  College.  I  need  not 
extol  these  immortal  sons  of  Harvard ;  for  their  names  are 
household  words  wherever  liberty  is  precious.  The  gener- 
ations to  come  will  look  upon  James  Otis,  John  Hancock, 
Samuel  Adams,  John  Adams,  and  Joseph  Warren  with  all 
the  admiration  with  which  we  regard  them  ;  for  the  world 


THE    DINNER. 


79 


will  not  see  purer  patriots  or  braver  men.  Here  they  were 
nurtured;  here  they  drank  at  the  life-giving  springs  of 
piety,  eloquence,  and  poetry  ;  here  they  read  of  chivalry 
and  freedom,  and  of  the  heroic  da3^s  of  Greece  and  Rome 
and  England  ;  here  they  breathed  together,  in  their  impres- 
sible youth,  that  spirit  of  liberty  which  characterized  the 
place  and  the  times. 

Institutions  of  learning  may  always  be  counted  upon  the 
side  of  freedom  ;  because  literature,  philosophy,  and  sci- 
ence confer  distinction  and  power  without  respect  of  per- 
sons, with  small  regard  to  birth,  wealth,  or  any  privileges 
not  based  on  mental  or  spiritual  gifts  ;  and  because,  too, 
they  ameliorate  the  common  lot,  inspire  the  common  mind, 
and  tend  to  equalize  conditions  of  life.  Universities  worthy 
of  the  name  are  always  liberal  in  a  true  sense. 

We  commemorate  the  men  of  1775,  that  we  and  our  chil- 
dren may  better  emulate  them.  We  have  needed,  and  our 
children  will  need,  their  heroic  virtues.  The  government 
which  they  founded  has  had  a  prodigious  development, 
until  it  has  become  the  grandest  and  most  hopeful,  but  also 
the  most  awful  and  inscrutable,  experiment  in  government 
ever  made.  Old-world  people  have  often  pictured  to  them- 
selves the  New  World  as  a  ver}^  paradise  of  freedom,  peace, 
and  plenty  ;  but,  if  it  has  been  a  paradise  at  all,  it  has  been 
a  paradise,  like  Mahomet's,  under  the  shadow  of  swords. 
Since  the  Jesuits  first  undertook  to  evangelize  the  savage 
continent,  American  history  has  been  one  long  story  of 
almost  incessant  fighting.  The  Spaniards  fought  with  the 
French  ;  the  French  with  the  Spaniards,  the  English,  and 
the  colonists  ;  all  these  invaders  with  the  Indians  ;  the  Eng- 
lish with  their  colonists ;  the  United  States  with  England, 
with  Mexico,  and  with  the  Indians ;  and  finally  the  States 
waged  terrible  civil  war  among  themselves.  For  several 
generations,  our  New-England  people  were  martial  to  an 
extraordinary  degree.  Let  us  not  forget  that  the  greatest 
of  Americans,  Washington,  was  a  professional  soldier,  and 
that  we   celebrate   this  day  because  on   this  spot  he  took 


8o  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

command  of  a  rude  army,  sprung  from  the  soil  on  the 
night  of  Lexington,  composed  of  men  who  thought  liberty 
was  to  be  fought  for.  Each  succeeding  century  of  Ameri- 
can history  has  been  bloodier  than  the  preceding.  What 
has  been  will  be,  until  public  wrongs  are  done  no  more, 
and  the  fierce  passions  of  ungovernable  multitudes  can  no 
more  be  kindled.  Therefore  we  exalt  the  courage,  ardor, 
and  instinctive  devotion  which  make  the  patriot  soldier ; 
therefore  we  praise  his  patience  and  fortitude  amid  hard- 
ships, his  calm  encounter  with  mortal  danger,  his  quiet 
endurance  even  of  neglect  and  ingratitude,  his  unquench- 
able loyalty  to  his  flag  and  his  country,  without  foresight  of 
the  issue,  without  knowing  even  whether  his  sacrifice  will 
avail  any  thing  for  his  country.  These  are  great  virtues, 
great  and  strong  enough  to  bring  good  out  of  fearful  evil. 

Our  forefathers  had  their  perils  and  ills  :  our  children 
will  have  theirs.  With  halters  round  their  necks,  with  no 
organized  government  at  their  backs,  a  thick  veil  hanging 
over  their  future,  our  ancestors  took  their  guns,  and  went 
out  to  kill  as  many  Englishmen  as  they  could.  That 
seemed  to  them  their  nearest  duty,  and  they  did  it.  They 
could  at  least  see  well  enough  the  whites  of  their  enemies' 
eyes.  What  immeasurable  consequences  have  flowed  from 
their  dauntless  vindication  of  what  they  held  to  be  their 
rights  ! 

And  now,  a  century  after  the  bloody  birth  of  the  nation, 
new  dangers  and  strange  internal  evils  threaten.  We  must 
meet  them  as  our  fathers  met  their  trials.  We  must  find 
such  leaders  as  they  found  ;  men  of  education,  men  of  prop- 
erty, and  men  of  honor.  The  men  who  signed  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence  pledged  to  each  other  their  lives, 
their  fortunes,  and  their  sacred  honor.  Their  lives,  of 
course,  for  they  were  contending  with  a  power  which  had 
much  experience  in  executing  traitors  and  putting  rebels  to 
the  sword  ;  their  fortunes,  for  confiscation  was  a  weapon  of 
both  parties,  and  they  put  at  risk  not  only  their  property, 
but  also  their  prospects  and  their    reputations,   and   their 


THE    DINNER.  8l 

t 

sacred  honor.     Those  men  had  honor  as  well  as  fortunes 
to  pledge. 

We  do  well,  then,  to  commemorate  the  patriots  of  the 
Revolution,  that  their  example  may  strengthen  our  hearts, 
that  our  children  may  catch  their  spirit,  and  win  the  sturdy 
virtues  which  defy  dangers  and  master  evils. 

Music,  —  "  Fair  Harvard." 


7.  '•'•The  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts." 

RESPONSE    BY    MOST   WORSHIPFUL   GRAND    MASTER 
PERCIVAL    L.    EVERETT, 

Of  Boston. 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  The  Society  of  Freemasonr}?^  feels  a  deep 
interest  in  every  thing  relating  to  the  memory  of  Washing- 
ton ;  for  he  in  his  lifetime  was  a  friend  and  patron  of  our 
Society,  and  one  of  its  most  honored  and  revered  members. 
The  year  after  he  was  born,  Freemasonry  was  established 
at  Boston  by  the  warrant  of  Viscount  Montague,  then  Grand 
Master  of  England. 

Benjamin  Franklin,  then  residing  at  Philadelphia,  derived 
his  powers  to  establish  the  Society  in  Pennsylvania  from 
Boston,  and  became  Grand  Master  of  that  State.  In  1752, 
at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  George  Washington,  as  the  record 
now  in  existence  attests,  was  initiated  into  the  Fraternity, 
in  a  Lodge  organized  by  the  warrant  of  Thomas  Oxnard 
of  Boston,  Provincial  Grand  Master. 

In  those  early  days  of  the  Society's  existence  in  America 
it  had  won  the  respect  and  regard  of  all  good  citizens. 
Governor  Belcher  was  one  of  its  prominent  and  influential 
members,  and,  both  here  and  in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey, 
exhibited  publicly  his  attachment  to  the  Fraternity. 

In  later  days,  among  the  patrons  and  strong  supporters 
of  our  institution  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  John 
Warren,  Joseph  Webb,  Josiah  Bartlett,  Timothy  Bigelow, 
and  John  Dixwell,  each  of  whom  occupied  the  posidon  of 


82  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  Massachusetts;  while  among 
the  Grand  Chaplains  there  were  Thaddeus  Mason  Harris, 
William  Bentley,  John  Eliot,  and  Ezra  Ripley.  It  may  be 
interesting  tor  me  to  mention,  as  showing  the  unsectarianness 
of  Masonry,  that  our  Grand  Chaplains  have  been  divided 
denominationally  as  follows  :  Unitarian,  20  ;  Episcopalian, 
16;  Trinitarian  Congregationalist,  9  ;  Methodist  Episcopal, 
5  ;  Baptist,  4;  Christian  Baptist,  i. 

In  the  "  History  of  Washington  and  his  Masonic  Com- 
peers," Sidney  Hayden  says,  in  alluding  to  Peyton  Ran- 
dolph, "In  1773,  committees  of  correspondence  began  to 
be  formed  in  the  different  colonies  to  ascertain  the  true 
position  and  sentiments  of  eacli.  Of  that  of  Virginia,  Mr. 
Randolph  was  chairman  ;  and  through  him  the  Cavaliers  of 
Virginia  became  first  united  in  political  sentiment  with  the 
Puritans  of  New  England.  We  cannot  attempt  in  this 
personal  sketch  of  Mr.  Randolph  to  give  a  portraiture  of 
the  events  of  those  times,  or  of  the  influences  that  produced 
them  :  suffice  it  to  say,  that  there  is  an  unwritten  history 
of  the  silent  influences  of  Masonry  in  producing  the  political 
associations  of  that  period.  The  mighty  Brotherhood  of 
Masonry,  ever  the  friend  of  freedom,  was  omnipotent  for 
good." 

Here  in  Massachusetts,  many  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the 
Revolution,  such  as  Joseph  Warren  and  Paul  Revere, 
were  presiding  over  our  Grand  Lodge.  The  history  of  the 
meetings  at  the  Green-Dragon  Tavern,  and  the  influence 
of  this  society  in  bringing  about  and  shaping  the  Revolu- 
tion, have  yet  to  be  written.  But  that  this  influence  was 
strong  and  controlling  is  beyond  all  question.  How  much 
Franklin  accomplished  through  the  Fraternity  of  France, 
in  the  lodges  in  which  he  received  many  an  ovation,  the 
world  does  not  know. 

After  Washington  became  a  member  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Society  of  Freemasoni'y,  he  continued  until  his 
death  to  be  its  firm  and  devoted  friend.  The  doings  of  the 
society  have  not  been  open  to  the  public  gaze ;  yet  it  is  a 


THE    DINNER.  83 

fact  worth  considering,  that,  during  all  the  eventful  life  of 
Washington,  he  was  surrounded  by  members  of  this  fra- 
ternity. Nearly  all  the  General  Officers  of  the  Revolution 
were  Masons.  This  was  equally  true  of  the  members  of 
the  first  Congress.  Nearly  all  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  were  active  members  of  our  Society  ; 
and  the  President  of  the  first  Continental  Consfress  was 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  Vir<jinia. 

How  much  the  intimacy  and  close  union  of  its  members, 
and  especially  the  confidence  and  reliance  which  this  Society 
produced  among  the  men  of  the  Revolution  in  the  field  and 
in  the  senate,  nerved  their  arms  and  increased  their  cour- 
age, we  cannot  tell ;  but  we  can  believe,  that,  in  the  many 
hours  of  gloom  and  despondency  which  overshadowed  the 
just  cause  before  it  finally  prevailed,  the  friendships  and 
strong  hopes  which  were  engendered  by  this  confidence  and 
reliance  had  much  to  do  with  the  final  result. 

After  the  conflict  was  over,  the  Union  was  established, 
and  Washington's  fame  was  world-wide,  —  "  first  in  war, 
first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  — 
he  did  not  consider  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  mix  with  tlie 
Fraternity,  and  be  known  as  one  of  its  members. 

When  the  corner-stone  of  the  national  Capitol  was  laid,  in 
the  city  named  for  the  Father  of  his  Country,  Washington 
was  present  as  a  Freemason  to  testify  to  the  world,  that, 
however  exalted  his  station,  he  was  not  ashamed  to  ac- 
knowledge his  connection  with  the  Order.  He  had  many 
examples  before  him  in  the  Old  World,  and  many  have 
followed  in  his  footsteps ;  since  the  Grand  Masters  of  Eng- 
land, for  the  last  century  and  a  half,  have  nearly  all  ranked 
high  in  the  peerage.  The  heirs-apparent  of  England  and 
Prussia  preside  over  their  respective  Grand  Lodges  to-day, 
while  kings  and  emperors  liave  added  to  their  numerous 
titles  that  of  Grand  Master  of  the  Freemasons. 

In  the  declining  years  of  Washington's  life,  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Massachusetts  received  from  him  two  communi- 
cations in  answer  to  congratulatory  letters  oflicially  sent  to 


84  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

him.  These  letters  are  well  known  to  the  Fraternity,  and 
have  frequently  been  published  in  their  proceedings.  It  is 
not  our  fault  that  they  are  not  equally  well  known  to  the 
public. 

Suffice  it  to  say,  that,  in  these  communications,  he  exhibits 
the  same  lovaltv  to  this  Order  which  had  been  conspicuous 
throughout  his  entire  Masonic  life. 

When  the  sad  end  came,  and  all  that  was  mortal  of  this 
illustrious  man  was  left  behind,  his  remains  were  deposited 
in  the  tomb  by  the  loving  hands  of  his  Brethren,  to  whom 
he  had  always  been  faithful. 

The  Grand  Lodoe  of  Massachusetts  communicated  its 
grief  to  Mrs.  Washington  ;  and  she,  well  knowing  the  high 
regard  which  Washington,  living,  had  always  entertained 
for  Freemasonry,  sent  to  our  Grand  Lodge  this  lock  of  his 
hair.  [The  lock  of  hair,  in  a  golden  urn,  was  here  shown 
to  the  company.]  The  patriot  Revere  enclosed  it,  with  his 
own  hands,  in  this  golden  urn  ;  and  once  a  year,  at  the 
installation  of  all  my  predecessors,  this  urn,  with  its  precious 
treasure,  has  been  confided  to  the  care  and  custody  of  the 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  in  this  Commonwealth. 

Standing  in  the  historic  relation  to  Washington  which  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts  sustains,  it  is  a  source  of 
pleasure  and  pious  duty  for  us  to  join  with  you  in  this 
centennial  celebration.  Here  he  first  assumed  the  com- 
mand of  the  Continental  forces  ;  nor  did  he  yield  it  until  he 
had  given  freedom  and  libert}-  to  his  country,  until  he  had 
established  a  nation  in  peace. 

8.    ''  The  Patriots  of  the  Late  War." 
RESPONSE    OF    MAJOR    GEORGE    S.    MERRILL, 

Of  Lawrence, 
Commander  of  Department  of  Massachusetts  Grand  Army  of  the  Repubuc. 

Mr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  I  am  scarcely 
less  embarrassed  in  this  presence,  and  with  these  associations 
and  surroundings,  than   by  the  realization  of  the  utter  in- 


THE    DINNER.  8$ 

sufficiency  of  any  words  of  mine  to  answer  for  the  men  to 
whom  your  sentiment  aUudes.  Indeed,  sir,  I  am  a  Httle 
puzzled  to  know  precisely  why  I  was  called  upon  to  fill 
this  position.  It  was  not  my  good  fortune  to  have  been 
born  in  Cambridge,  or  even  in  Boston  ;  although  I  hardly 
think  I  should  blame  myself  for  that :  but  possibly  I  may 
have  discovered  the  reason  in  the  suggestion  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  Harvard  University,  that,  during  the  stormy  hours 
of  the  Revolution,  a  portion  of  the  library  of  the  college 
was  preserved  in  Andover,  from  whose  territory  was  taken 
a  portion  of  the  city  in  which  I  reside  ;  and  it  is  possible 
that  the  circulation  of  the  contents  of  the  librar}^  may  ac- 
count for  the  somewhat  peculiar  theology  of  that  honored 
town.  At  all  events,  it  is  not  impossible  that  a  portion  of  the 
library  still  remaining  there,  its  loss  may  have  had  some 
influence  upon  the  theology  of  this  ancient  institution  of 
yours.  But,  sir,  I  am  thankful  that  the  men  to  whom  your 
sentiment  alludes  need  no  eulogy  from  human  lips.  From 
the  days  of  1861  to  those  of  1865,  from  Baltimore  to  New 
Orleans,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  from  Atlanta 
to  the  ocean,  on  more  than  a  hundred  battle-tields  by  land 
and  by  sea,  they  spoke  for  themselves.  And  to-day,  at  the 
close  of  the  first  decade  since  Peace  shed  its  shining  beams 
through  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  broad  land,  standing 
upon  the  threshold  of  the  second  century,  these  soldiers 
of  the  Republic,  while  relinquishing  none  of  the  principles 
for  which  they  suflTered,  still  speak,  by  heart  and  hand  and 
voice,  only  for  peace,  unity,  and  reconciliation.  The  events 
of  the  Revolution  and  of  the  Rebellion  are  more  closely 
united  than  we  are  wont  to  think.  The  tie  that  binds  the 
events  of  1775  to  those  of  1861  must  not  be  measured  by 
the  span  of  years.  No  nation  of  the  past  has  preserved 
the  story  of  its  heroes  more  carefully  than  has  been  handed 
down  to  us,  from  sire  to  son,  the  treasured  memories  of  a 
hundred  years  ago.  That  this  story  has  not  been  without 
its  beneficial  results,  we  have  but  to  remember  that  it 
was  the  men  of  Middlesex,  who,  when  the  red   torch   of 


86  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

war  was  lighted  in  our  land,  first  rallied  beneath  the  old 
flag  in  defence  of  the  liberties  of  the  Union,  and  that 
the  blood  of  Massachusetts  was  first  drank  in  by  the  soil 
of  Maryland.  And  surely,  during  all  the  long  years  of 
the  war,  there  were  no  more  chivalrous  soldiers  following 
the  flag,  no  more  patriotic  blood  was  shed  in  defence  of 
national  unity  and  national  integrity,  no  purer  lives  were 
laid  upon  the  altar  of  the  countr^s  than  came  from  the 
honored  walls  of  Harvard  and  the  classic  soil  of  Cambridge. 
And  as  we  in  Massachusetts  join  in  these  centennials, — 
fortunate,  as  has  been  said,  that  we  have  within  our  limits 
so  many  of  these  memorable  spots,  —  and  as  we  have  al- 
ready seen  uncounted  thousands  coming,  not  to  witness  the 
pageant  of  a  great  show,  but,  with  pure  love  in  their  hearts 
for  the  memories  of  their  fathers,  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
graves  of  those  early  martyrs  upon  which  rests  the  silence  of 
a  century  ;  and  later  have  seen  nearly  half  a  million  of  our 
people  join  in  celebrating  the  anniversary  of  that  great 
event,  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  witnessed  the  waving 
of  handkerchiefs,  and  shouting  of  huzzas,  to  the  men  who 
stood  in  opposition  to  our  own  soldiers  in  the  South,  in  token 
of  appreciation  of  the  better  days  of  peace  that  have  come 
upon  us ;  and  as  we  come  now  to  this  still  greater  anni- 
versar}',  of  the  day  when  the  town-meeting  —  if  we  may  so 
term  it  —  of  the  early  Colonies  became  a  consolidated  army, 
and,  through  the  genius  of  the  commander-in-chief,  ac- 
complished that  most  unparalleled  act  in  history,  —  the 
driving  of  the  English  army  from  the  soil  they  had  once 
fully  possessed,  —  while  we  now  look  forward  across  the 
threshold  of  the  opening  centur}^  and  gather  up  the  eternal 
glories  of  the  3'ears  gone  by,  be  it  ours  to  so  live  and  act 
in  the  present,  that,  when  our  sons  shall  join  in  the  next 
grand  centennial,  they  may  repeat  the  names  of  this  gener- 
ation as  kindly,  and  treasure  our  memories  as  tenderly,  as 
do  we  to-day  those  of  the  earh'  patriots  and  soldiers  upon 
whose  deeds  has  already  fallen  the  misty  mantle  of  a 
century. 

Music,  —  "  Hail  Columbia." 


THE   DINNER.  8/ 

9.  "  The    Orator   of  the   Day." 
RESPONSE    BY    REV.    A.    P.    PEABODY,    D.D., 

Of  Cambridge,  ilie  Orator  of  the  Day. 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  It  is  better  not  to  try  a  hazardous  experi- 
ment twice.  I  have,  to  be  sure,  once  exercised  self-denial  to 
the  last  degree  :  and  certainly  the  self-denial  was  fully  equal 
to  your  patience  ;  for,  if  I  had  told  you  one-half  of  what  I 
have  talked  and  felt  in  my  preparation  for  this  da}',  your 
dinner  would  have  remained  uneaten  till  the  present 
moment.  I  am  not  going  to  inflict  upon  3-ou  what  I  did  not 
say  then;  but  let  me  say,  that  we,  here  in  Cambridge  and 
in  Harvard  College,  are  doing  all  in  our  power  to  keep  the 
succession  of  patriotic  citizens.  I  will  say  for  my  colleagues 
in  office,  that  one  of  our  chief  cares  is  to  give  our  students  a 
profound  sense  of  their  responsibility  to  the  State  which 
nurtures  them,  to  the  country  w^hose  citizens  they  are  to 
become ;  and  I  believe  that,  from  year  to  year,  we  are 
sending  out  our  full  quota  of  men  who  will  be  worthy  pil- 
lars of  the  State,  and,  I  am  glad  to  add,  worth}^  pillars  of 
the  Church. 

10.  ''The  Poet  of  the  Day." 

RESPONSE    BY    PROF.    JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL, 

Oi  Cambridge,  the  Poet  of  the  Day. 

Mr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  I  was  obliged, 
by  my  official  position  last  Wednesday  at  the  Harvard 
Alumni  meeting,  to  make  so  many  speeches  in  this  hall, 
that  I  seem  to  see  an  expression  of  astonishment  on  the 
faces  of  the  portraits  opposite,  as  if  to  say,  "What !  is  he  up 
again  ?  "  But  I  had  my  shot  at  you  three  or  four  hours  ago  ; 
and  I  don't  intend  to  make  use  of  the  privilege  the  toast- 
master  has  given  me,  except  in  the  sense  that  it  is  under- 
stood to  have  been  given,  — that  is,  it  is  not  a  toast  to  the 
poet  of  the  occasion,  but  to  the  poets  of  Cambridge  ;  and 
I  officiate  only  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  my  friend 
Dr.  Holmes,  who  will  respond  to  the  spirit  of  the  toast. 


88  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 


RESPONSE    BY    DR.    OLIVER    WENDELL    HOLMES, 

Of  Boston. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  I  know  you  will  not  accuse 
me  of  lightly  or  wantonly  taking  the  compliment  to  myself, 
when  yqu  have  sat  to-day  and  listened  to  my  friend's 
inspiring  poem ;  and  I  should  hesitate  to  read  the  few 
verses  I  have  here,  were  it  not  that  one  was  before  and 
the  other  after  dinner.  I  have  addressed  the  gray  heads 
and  bald  heads  of  this  assembly  more  particularly,  asking 
if  they  can  tell  where  some  of  the  old  familiar  places  in 
this  immediate  vicinity  are. 

And  can  it  be  you've  found  a  place 
Within  this  consecrated  space, 

Which  makes  so  fine  a  show. 
For  one  of  Rip  Van  Winkle's  race  .^ 

And  is  it  really  so? 
Who  wants  an  old,  receipted  bill? 
Who  fishes  in  the  Frog-pond  still? 
Who  digs  last  year's  potato-hill? 

That's  what  he'd  like  to  know  ! 

And  were  it  any  spot  on  earth 

Save  this  dear  home  that  gave  him  birth 

Some  scores  of  years  ago, 
He  had  not  come  to  spoil  your  mirth 

And  chill  your  festive  glow  ; 
But  round  his  baby-nest  he  strays, 
With  tearful  eye  the  scene  surveys. 
His  heart  unchanged  by  changing  days  ; 

That's  what  he'd  have  you  know. 

Can  you  whose  e_ves  not  yet  are  dim 
Live  o'er  the  buried  past  with  him, 

And  see  the  roses  blow 
When  white-haired  men  were  Joe  and  Jim, 

Untouched  by  winter's  snow? 


THE    DINNER.  89 

Or  roll  the  years  back  one  by  one, 
As  Judah's  monarch  backed  the  sun, 
And  see  the  century  just  begun? 

That's  what  he'd  like  to  know! 

I  came  but  as  the  swallow  dips, 
Just  touching  with  her  feather-tips 

The  shining  wave  below, 
To  sit  with  pleasure-murmuring  lips. 

And  listen  to  the  flow 
Of  Elmwood's  sparkling  Hippocrene,  — 
To  tread  once  more  my  native  green. 
To  sigh  unheard,  to  smile  unseen,  — 

That's  what  I'd  have  you  know. 

But  since  the  common  lot  I've  shared 
(We  all  are  sitting  "  unprepared  " 

Like  culprits  in  a  row, 
Whose  heads  are  down,  whose  necks  are  bared 

To  wait  the  headsman's  blow), 
I'd  like  to  shift  my  task  to  you, 
By  asking  just  a  thing  or  two 
About  the  good  old  times  I  knew  : 

Here's  what  I  want  to  know  : 

The  yellow  meet'n'-house  —  can  you  tell 
Just  where  it  stood  before  it  fell 

Prey  of  the  levelling  foe?  — 
Our  dear  old  temple,  loved  so  well, 

By  ruthless  hands  laid  low. 
Where,  tell  me,  was  the  Deacon's  pew? 
Whose  hair  was  braided  in  a  queue? 
(For  there  were  pig-tails  not  a  few)  — 

That's  what  I'd  like  to  know. 

The  bell  —  can  you  recall  its  clang? 
And  how  the  seats  would  slam  and  bang? 

The  viol  and  its  bow? 
The  basso's  trump  before  he  sang? 

And  sweet  voiced  Nat.  Munroe? 
Where  was  it' old  Judge  Winthrop  sat? 
Who  wore  the  last  three-cornered  hat? 
Was  Israel  Porter  lean  or  fat? 

That's  what  I'd  like  to  know. 
iz 


QO  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Tell  where  the  market  used  to  be 
That  stood  beside  the  murdered  tree? 

Whose  dog  to  church  would  go? 
Old  Marcus  Reemie,  who  was  he? 

Who  were  the  brothers  Snow? 
Does  not  your  memory  slightly  fail 
About  that  great  September  gale 
Whereof  one  told  a  moving  tale 

As  Cambridge  boys  should  know  ? 

When  Cambridge  was  a  simple  town 
Say  just  where  Deacon  William  Brown 

(Look  round  in  yonder  row) 
For  honest  silver  counted  down 

His  groceries  would  bestow  ?  — 
For  those  were  days  when  money  meant 
Something  that  jingled  as  you  went,  — 
No  hybrid  like  the  nickel  cent, 

I'd  have  you  all  to  know  ; 

But  quarter,  ninepence,  pistareen. 
And  fourpence  ha'pennies  in  between. 

All  metal  fit  to  show, 
Instead  of  rags  in  stagnant  green, 

The  scum  of  debts  we  owe. 
How  sad  to  think  such  stuff'  should  be 
Our  Wendell's  cure-all  remedy  ;  — 
Not  Wendell  H.,  but  Wendell  P.,— 

The  one  you  all  must  know  ! 

I  question  —  but  you  answer  not  — 
Dear  me  !  and  have  I  quite  forgot 

How  five-score  years  ago. 
Just  on  this  very  blessed  spot. 

The  summer  leaves  below, 
Before  his  homespun  ranks  arrayed. 
In  green  New  England's  elm-bough  shade 
The  great  Virginian  drew  the  blade 

King  George  full  soon  should  know  ! 

O  George  the  Third  !  you  found  it  true 
Our  George  was  more  than  double  you. 


THE    DINNER.  91 


For  nature  made  him  so. 
Not  much  a  jewelled  cap  can  do 

If  brains  are  scant  and  slow. 
Ah,  not  like  that  his  laurel  crown 
Whose  presence  gilded  with  renown 
Our  brave  old  x^cademic  town, 

As  all  her  children  know  ! 

To-day  we  meet  with  loud  acclaim 
To  tell  mankind  that  here  he  came, 

With  hearts  that  throb  and  glow  ; 
Ours  is  a  portion  of  his  fame, 

Our  trumpets  needs  must  blow  ! 
On  yonder  hill  the  Lion  fell, 
But  here  was  chipped  the  Eagle's  shell. 
That  little  hatchet  did  it  well, 

We  mean  the  world  shall  know  ! 


II.    "  1775  —  Massachusetts — 1S75." 

RESPONSE    BY    HON.    EMORY   WASHBURN, 

♦ 

Of  Cambridge,  Ex-Governor  of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Mayor,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  —  You  have 
put  me  in  a  worse  situation  than  were  any  of  the  soldiers 
who  stood  on  the  Common  when  General  Washington 
drew  his  sword.  They  were  without  guns  and  ammuni- 
tion;  and  so  am  I.  But  they  were  vokmteers ;  and  I 
am  not.  I  came  without  any  gun  or  ammunition,  and 
without  the  slightest  intimation  that  I  would  be  expected 
to  fire  off  any  thing  here  to-day ;  and  yet  you  call 
upon  me  to  speak  for  Massachusetts,  and  for  i775  ^s  com- 
pared with  1875.  ^^1"-  Mayor,  if  you  expect  me  to  give  a 
history  of  what  has  transpired  in  Massachusetts  since  i775' 
you  ought  to  have  begun  earlier  in  the  afternoon  ;  for  I  have 
hardly  time  :  besides,  my  friends  who  have  gone  before  me 
have  taken  up  all  the  events.  But,  sir,  if  you  wish  to  com- 
pare the  spirit  of  to-da}^  with  the  spirit  of  1775,  and  wish 
me,  from  the  reminiscences  that  I  have  of  local  history,  to 
present  before  this  audience  some  examples  of  what  indi- 


92  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Gated  the  spirit  of  1775,  you  will  pardon  me,  sir,  if  I  go 
back  in  those  recollections  to  the  incidents  in  a  single  town, 
in  order  to  illustrate  what  I  have  to  say.  I  speak,  sir,  of  a 
town  some  fifty  miles  from  this  place  :  and  my  object  in 
reverting  to  it  is  to  show  the  state  of  feeling  that  then  pre- 
vailed in  Massachusetts ;  the  universal  feeling  among  every 
class  in  the  community  ;  the  readiness  with  which,  when 
the  war  came,  they  met  it,  although  they  were  destitute  of 
the  means  that  would  enable  them  to  encounter  the  then  most 
glorious  and  powerful  nation  upon  earth.  I  speak  of  an 
incident  connected  with  one  town  which  I  know  to  be  true. 
On  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  at  a  little  past  twelve  o'clock 
noon,  a  messenger  arrived  in  that  town,  giving  information 
to  the  commander  of  a  volunteer  company  which  had  been 
organized  there,  but  whose  members  were  spread  over  a 
territory  six  miles  square.  Riding  up  to  a  shop,  the  mes- 
senger said  to  the  man,  "The  war  has  begun!  —  the 
British  are  marching  on  Concord !  "  Then  on  he  went 
to  alarm  the  towns  in  the  west.  This  was  fift}'  miles  from 
Boston,  and  a  little  after  twelve  o'clock  noon.  Who  sent  him, 
nobody  knew  ;  what  authority  he  had,  nobody  knows.  They 
didn't  ask  what  his  authority  was.  There  were  only  a 
hundred  and  fifty  men  on  the  roll  of  soldiers  of  the  town ; 
but  in  less  than  four  hours,  fifty  of  those  men  had  been 
gathered  together  from  the  six  square  miles  of  that  town, 
coming  as  they  did  from  their  ploughs  in  the  fields  and  from 
their  shops,  and  crossing  fields  and  woods  to  reach  the 
rendezvous.  Before  five  o'clock  they  had  been  mustered 
on  the  Common,  their  minister  had  offered  up  prayer,  — 
for  they  were  a  praying  as  well  as  a  patriotic  people,  —  and 
they  were  on  the  march  for  Concord.  There  wasn't  a  house 
but  was  lighted  to  encourage  the  soldiers  on  their  way.  At 
Marlboro',  they  found  that  the  British  had  gone  back  into 
Boston.  It  was  no  idle  talk  ;  they  came  ready  for  action  ; 
and,  when  Washington  took  command  here,  that  company 
was  in  the  line.  There  wasn't  a  man  of  them  but  had  some 
war-mark  upon  his  person  or  clothing;  for  they  had  been 


THE    DINNER.  93 

through  the  fire  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill ;  and  the  cap- 
tain who  stood  there  had  four  bullets  through  the  cloak  he 
wore  upon  that  occasion.  That,  sir,  was  a  mere  repre- 
sentative of  the  Massachusetts  men  who  came  to  stand  by 
what  they  had  heard  preached,  and  were  willing  to  practise. 
Now,  sir,  the  question  comes  up,  Is  the  spirit  that  ani- 
mated those  men  the  same  spirit  that  animates  us  to-day? 
What  are  the  changes  that  have  come  over  Massachusetts? 
Why,  sir,  in  material  prosperity,  there  is  no  comparison 
between  the  condition  of  the  country  then  and  what  it  is 
now.  Massachusetts  was  a  beggar,  comparatively,  then  : 
her  resources  were  gone.  When  that  company  marched 
by  the  last  house  in  their  town,  the  mother  of  one  of  the 
soldiers  came  out  to  bid  her  son  good-bye  ;  and  she  asked 
the  captain  if  he  had  any  ammunition.  He  said  he  had 
powder,  but  no  bullets.  She  said,  "Wait  a  few  moments," 
and  went  into  the  house.  Taking  the  weights  from  the  old 
family  clock,  she  melted  •them  up,  holding  them  over  the 
fire  herself.  That  was  a  sample  of  the  spirit  that  pervaded 
Massachusetts  then.  But,  sir,  Massachusetts  has  changed 
since  then.  In  material  prosperity  there  is  no  comparison. 
We  now  have  two  thousand  millions  of  dollars  of  valuation  ; 
but  have  we  the  same  spirit  that  we  had  then?  Are  we 
as  rich  in  the  spirit  of  manliness,  justice,  and  confidence  in 
God,  that  characterized  the  men  of  New  England  and 
Massachusetts  who  gathered  here  upon  this  plain  when 
Washington  took  command?  Sir,  before  these  centennial 
anniversaries  began,  I  had  thought  that  our  patriotism  was 
almost  dying  out ;  and  it  almost  seemed  that  another  century 
would  wind  up  the  history  of  Massachusetts  and  the  United 
States  as  that  of  the  Rome  of  old  had  been  wound  up  ;  that 
corruption  in  party  politics  and  party  leaders  would  poison 
the  very  foundation  of  the  government  under  which  we 
live.  But  when  I  have  heard  the  speeches  made  here 
to-day,  and  felt  the  spirit  with  which  you  have  come  to 
these  successive  anniversaries,  when  I  have  noticed  the 
ready  responses  to  the  eloquent  and  patriotic  appeals  of  our 


94  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

orator  and  poet,  I  have  been  convinced  that  the  hearts  of 
the  people  are  right,  and  that  the  people  are  as  true  now 
as  the}'  were  then.  And  when  I  see  that  our  institutions  of 
learning  have  improved  with  the  growth  of  our  national 
prosperity,  remembering  that  this  hall  is  to  be  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  advance  that  has  been  made  in  Harvard 
College  since  the  soldiers  took  possession  of  it  a  century 
ago,  I  feel  my  confidence  renewed,  that,  when  another 
century  comes  round,  Massachusetts  will  be  found  where 
she  was  in  1775,  and  where  she  is  now;  that  the  United 
States  will  be  found  where  they  are  now  ;  and  that  we  shall 
not  have  become  corrupt  enougli  to  lose  our  government, 
or  forfeit  our  freedom.  Why,  sir,  every  thing  encourages 
us.  See  what  has  been  accomplished  in  the  last  century  ! 
We  once  talked  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Union,  and  the 
danger  of  the  government  being  broken  to  pieces ;  but 
haven't  we  got  rid  of  the  great  cause  of  dissatisfaction  and 
disagreement  between  the  two  •sections  of  the  country? 
And  when  the  centennial  came  round,  and  we  went  upon 
Bunker  Hill  to  renew  our  vows  to  the  country,  and  to 
the  cause  for  which  our  fathers  fought,  bled,  and  died, 
did  we  not  there  meet  our  brethren  from  the  South,  and 
pledge  each  other  that  the  Union  should  be  for  all  time? 
When  I  see  this  spirit,  I  don't  care  if  there  be  corruption 
in  some  of  our  party  leaders  ;  I  don't  care  if  our  rulers  are  at 
times  defective  :  I  do  not  fear,  for  I  know  that  we  have  the 
same  spirit  which  actuated  the  common  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  1775,  and  that  in  1975  they  will  be  ready  to  cele- 
brate, as  we  do  now,  the  union,  freedom,  and  independence  of 
our  country  ;  and  that  the  United  States  then  will  stand,  not 
merely  as  a  single  republic  among  the  monarchies  of  the 
Old  World,  but  the  leading  power  among  the  republics  of 
free  States  throughout  the  world. 

Music,  —  "  The  Star-Spangled  Banner." 


THE    DINNER.  95 


12.     '•'•Lexington^   Concord,  a?id  Bunker  Hill." 
RESPONSE    BY    HON.    GEO.    WASHINGTON    WARREN, 

Of  Boston,  on  behalf  of  the  Bunker-Hill-I\Ionument  Association. 

Mr.  Mayor,  —  It  is  quite  a  task  for  one  person  to  speak 
for  those  three  names,  when  each  has  had  an  orator  and  a 
poet,  within  the  last  few  weeks  to  illustrate  it.  The  eloquence 
of  Dana,  Curtis,  and  Devens  has  clothed  those  immortal 
names  with  a  new  lustre.  And  as  to  the  great  name  we 
have  here  assembled  to  commemorate,  —  where  occurred 
the  third  great  act  in  the  cause  of  the  nation, — we  all 
know  that  it  is  not  only  respected  here,  but  in  every  part  of 
the  world.  Many  years  ago,  I  happened  to  have  an  instance 
of  it  come  home  to  myself.  While  travelling  on  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe,  I  found,  that,  in  presenting  my  passport,  I 
was  received  with  the  greatest  politeness  and  most  profound 
respect ;  and  the  same  was  the  case  with  a  company  of 
ladies  who  were  with  me.  We  frequently  spoke  of  the 
politeness  of  the  officers.  It  was  marked  in  the  cities  of  Italy, 
where  the  idea  prevails  that  one  cannot  take  the  name  of 
another  unless  he  belongs  to  the  family.  So  far  as  I  am 
concerned,  they  were  right :  for  Washington  was  the  Father 
of  his  Country,  and  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  has  the 
right  to  bestow  that  name  upon  his  progeny  ;  and  I  am  only 
one  of  a  thousand  bearing  that  name.  Mr.  Mayor,  I  think 
this  festive  gathering  at  the  close  of  these  ceremonies  is  very 
appropriately  held  in  this  building,  erected  as  it  was  in 
honor  of  those  who  preserved  the  country  which  Washing- 
ton came  here  to  defend  ;  antl  it  is  also  appropriate  because 
of  the  peculiar  relation  which  the  college  has  held  to  this 
ancient  town.  Why,  sir,  the  American  army  graduated 
here  in  the  first  place  ;  and  when  the  memorable  expedition 
was  formed,  and  when  Prescott  formed  his  regiment  into  a 
hollow  square,  he  received  a  blessing  from  the  lips  of  the 
President  of  Harvard  College.  If  the  present  President  of 
the  College  were  a  clerical  man,  he  would  certainly  have 


96  CAM15RIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

been  called  upon  to  perform  the  service  of  chaplain  on 
Bunker  Hill  at  the  last  anniversary:  in  1857,  when  the 
statue  of  General  Warren  was  inaugurated,  the  then  Presi- 
dent of  Harvard  College  acted  in  that  capacity.  I  give 
you,  sir,  as  a  sentiment,  — 

All  honor  to  the  city  of  Cambridge,  which  is  the  birth- 
place of  American  scholarship,  and  is  also  the  birth-place 
of  the  Union  army  which  gave  us  a  nation  for  that  scholar- 
ship to  lead  and  adorn. 

13.  "  Oicr  Centennial." 
RESPONSE    BY   GEN.    EDWARD    W.   HINCKS,  U.S.A., 

Of  Milwaukee,  Wis.  (formerly  resident  in  Cambridge). 

Mr.  Mayor, — When  my  friend  General  Devens  re- 
sponded for  the  army  and  navy,  I  supposed  that  I  had 
escaped  further  service  upon  this  occasion  ;  but  he  suggested 
that  it  perhaps  had  been  reserved  for  me  to  speak  for  the 
judiciary  !  Now  I  find  m^^self  called  upon  to  respond  to 
the  toast  of  the  day  which,  when  given  in  this  hall,  should 
have  commanded  the  eloquence  of  a  gifted  son  of  Harvard. 
We  have  to-day  been  reminded  by  learned  speakers  that 
this  nation  was  born  of  the  sword :  and  the  record  of  its 
growth  tells  us  that,  in  every  epoch  of  its  history,  the  tree 
of  Liberty  has  been  nurtured  by  the  blood  of  the  slain. 
Yet  we  cannot  forget,  that,  in  the  progress  of  these  hun- 
dred years  just  passed,  the  greatest  triumphs  won  by  our 
countrymen  have  been  attained  in  peaceful  industries,  and 
in  the  walks  of  law^  literature,  and  the  arts.  As  we  con- 
template with  so  much  satisfaction  the  bright  record  of  our 
nation  in  the  first  century  of  its  age,  and  hope  with  so 
much  confidence  for  grander  achievements  during  the  cen- 
tury upon  which  we  are  about  to  enter,  may  we  not  appro- 
priately avail  ourselves  of  the  opportunity  afibrded  by  these 
centennial  festivities  to  cast  the  mantle  of  charity  over  all 
the  acts  of  our  fellow-citizens  who  have  difiered  with  us  in 
years  recently  passed  ?     Surely  they  were  our  countrymen, 


THE    DINNER. 


97 


however  misguided  ;  theirs  was  the  valor  of  America's  sons 
contending  for  what  they  believed  to  be  the  right.  The 
record  of  their  heroic  devotion,  and  of  the  virtues  of  their 
great  military  chieftain,  is  the  legacy  of  the  whole  Ameri- 
can people,  as  much  so  as  is  the  imperishable  fame  of  him 
whose  deeds  have  been  commemorated  to-day,  or  the  heroic 
names  inscribed  upon  the  marble  tablets  within  this  hall. 
The  most  gratifying  indications  of  the  times  are  the  evi- 
dences, multiplying  on  every  hand,  that  the  birth  of  the 
new  century  is  to  be  marked  by  an  era  of  national  fellow- 
ship and  good-will,  —  without  which  the  Union  would  be 
but  a  pillar  of  sand ;  that  the  enmities  and  estrangements 
engendered  in  all  our  conflicts  are  to  be  forgotten,  and  that 
the  whole  American  people  are  again  to  be  resolved  into 
one  harmonious  brotherhood,  having  mutual  sympathies 
and  interests,  cherishing  one  love  of  country,  actuated  by 
one  desire  to  uphold  the  laws,  and  governed  by  one  im- 
pulse of  patriotism,  manliness,  and  honesty;  —  an  era  in 
which  our  country  shall  return  to  the  path  of  its  true  gran- 
deur, and  renew  its  marvellous  career,  leading  in  the  march 
of  a  purer  civilization,  and  winning  the  bloodless  victo- 
ries of  perpetual  peace. 


13 


THE    CHILDREN'S    ENTERTAINMENT. 


One  of  the  most  pleasing  features  of  the  3d  of  July 
celebration  was  the  children's  entertainment  in  the  after- 
noon. 

While  the  dinner  was  in  progress  at  Memorial  Hall, 
about  twenty-five  hundred  children  assembled  in  the  tent, 
with  their  parents  and  teachers  surrounding  them,  closely 
packed  to  the  extreme  verge,  and  fringed  beyond  by  an 
encircling  band  of  patient  listeners. 

The  exercises  were  under  the  direction  of  the  energetic 
projector  of  the  entertainment,  Mr.  Benjamin  Woodward  ; 
assisted  by  Mr.  Charles  E.  Boyd  as  musical  director  (he 
having  also  conducted  the  previous  rehearsals),  with  Mr. 
Charles  Stimpson  as  aid.  The  large  number  taking 
part  made  the  active  and  faithful  services  of  Mr.  J.  Edwin 
Mullen,  as  secretary,  well  worthy  of  notice. 

The  musical  part  of  the  programme  was  furnished  by 
thirty-seven  young  ladies,  and  an  equal  number  of  young 
gentlemen,  representing  the  thirty-seven  States  of  the 
Union,  assisted  by  an  extra  chorus  of  eight  voices;  Mrs. 
E.  F.  BowKER,  soprano,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Claus,  bari- 
tone, soloists  ;  Mr.  L.  L.  Powers,  pianist ;  and  Edmands' 
Orchestra. 

Shortly  after  four  o'clock,  the  curtain  which  concealed 
the  platform  was  withdrawn,  and  a  beautiful  tableau  was 
presented,  which  called  forth  unbounded  applause :  the 
chorus  being  arranged  in  the  form  of  an  eagle  with  wide- 
spread wings,  and  the  Goddess  ol  Liberty  as  the  head;  the 
latter  being  personated  by  Miss  Belle  Grieves. 

The  thirteen  original  States  were  represented  as  follows ; 
the  young  ladies  being  dressed   in  white  with   designative 


lOO 


CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 


sashes,  and  the  young  gentlemen  wearing  the  Continental 
hat  and  an  appropriate  regalia:  — 


Virginia 
New  York 
Massachusetts 
New  Hampshire 
Connecticut   . 
Maryland  .     . 
Rhode  Island 
Delaware  .     . 
North  Carolina 
New  Jersey    . 
South  Carolina 
Pennsylvania 
Georgia     .     . 


Miss  Kitty  M.  Shaw. 

„  Georgianna  Jones. 

„  May  Shepherd. 

„  Annie  Sproule. 

„  Nellie  L.  Pike. 

,,  Carrie  Burton. 

„  Maria  M.  Hillman. 

,,  Ella  F.  Lenfest. 

„  Flor.  Richardson. 

„  Lillias  D.  Boyd. 

„  EuDORA  Ward. 

,,  Ella  R.  Grieves. 

„  Lizzie  Burton. 


Mr.  Edward  Brooks. 

„  Frank  Howlett. 

„  Frederick  Howe. 

„  J.  Edw.  Mullen. 

„  J.  Edw.  Grieves. 

„  Wm.  Worcester. 

„  Charles  Grieves. 

„  Martin  P.  Bearce. 

„  John  A.  Barry. 

„  Frank  C.  Dennis. 

„  Edward  F.  Forbes. 

„  Geo.  H.  Munroe. 

„  Wm.  M.  Gordon. 


The  other  States  were  represented  as  follows ;  the  young 
ladies  being  dressed  in  white  with  designative  sashes, 
and  the  young  gentlemen  wearing  the  full  Continental 
uniform  :  — 


Vermont    . 
Kentucky  . 
Tennessee 
Ohio      .     . 
Louisiana  . 
Indiana 
Mississippi 
Illinois .     . 
Alabama    . 
Maine  .     . 
Missouri   . 
Arkansas  . 
Michigan  . 
Florida 
Texas   .     . 
Iowa      .     . 
Wisconsin 
California  . 
Minnesota 
Oregon 
Kansas 
West  Virginia 
Nevada 
Nebraska  , 


Miss  Alice  Lloyd. 

Agnes  M.  Boyd. 
Mabel  Hooker. 
Ida  Mumler. 
Maggie  Williams. 
Jessie  L.  Hallenbeck 
Nellie  Longley. 
Mary  Harrington. 
Maggie  Bryant. 
Carrie  A.  Smith. 
Georgianna  Wood. 
H.  Victoria  Boyd. 
Lulu  Thompson. 
Georgie  Marsters. 
Maggie  Stinson. 
Georgi'na  Meacham. 
Addie  Rowe. 
Dora  Coleman. 
Mary  G.  Hillman. 
Amy  Ferguson. 
Clara  Fox. 
Fanny  Ward. 
Sarah  Harrington. 
Winnie  Walker. 


Mr.  Edward  Downing. 
John  Gibson. 
George  H.  Nixon. 
Charles  Alden. 
Robert  Malcolm. 
George  E.  Brown. 
Edw.  H.  Morrison. 
John  Harrington. 
Frederick  Allen. 
Edgar  O.  Kinsman, 
Frank  Coleman. 
John  McPherson. 
William  Lister. 
James  A.  Stinson. 
Amory  B.  Gibes. 
John  McNamee. 
Joseph  Coolidge. 
Edward  Stone. 
Charles  Bacon. 
Edward  Coleman. 
A.  Gleason. 
Charles  Foster. 
Edward  Hurd. 
W.  Albert  Boyd. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    ENTERTAINMENT.  lOI 

The  extra  chorus  comprised  — 

Miss  Emeline  Beckett.  Miss  Cora  Tufts. 
„     Mary  A.  Crawford.  „     Ella  Malcolm. 

„    Eva  Sheriff.  „    Clara  A.  Smith. 

„     May  Thomas.  „    Jennie  M.  Major. 

Prayer,  by  Rev.  William  Warland  of  the  Episcopal 
Mission  at  East  Cambridge,  preceded  the  following  pro- 
gramme :  — 

1.  Hymn,  "  Come,  Thou  Almighty  King  "      ...     .     by  the  Chorus. 

Remarks  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Muzzey. 

2.  Holmes'  Hymn,  "  Angel  of  Peace  ;  "  Air,  "  Keller's  American  Hymn." 

Mrs.  Bowker  and  Chorus. 
Remarks  by  Rev.  H.  K.  Pervear. 

3.  Hymn,  "  God  bless  our  native  land  " Chorus. 

Remarks  by  Rev.  C.  T.  Johnson. 

4.  Gilmore's  Hymn,  "  God  save  our  Union  " Chorus. 

Poem  by  John  Owen,  Esq. 

5.  Song,  "  Vive  I'America  !  " Mr.  Claus. 

Remarks  by  James  Alexander,  Esq.,  of  Charlotteviile,  Va. 

9.     Eichberg's  Hymn,  "  To  thee,  O  Country  !  " Chorus. 

7.  Song,  "  Red,  White,  and  Blue  " Mrs.  Bowker. 

8.  Hymn,  "America  " Chorus. 

Remarks  by  His  Honor  Mayor  Bradford. 
Poem  by  Rev.  William  Newell,  D.D. 

9.  Song,  "  Star-spangled  Banner "        .     Mrs.  Bowker  and  Chorus. 

Benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Newell. 


REMARKS-  OF   REV.   A.   B.    MUZZEY, 

Of  Cambridge. 

Nothing  could  be  more  appropriate,  in  the  centennial 
celebration  of  Washington's  taking  command  of  the  Ameri- 
can army,  than  this  gathering  of  our  children.  Call  this 
what  else  you  please,  it  is  eminently  the  children's  day. 
Washington  is  styled  in  history  the  Father  of  his  Country. 
He  had  no  children  himself;  and  Providence,  by  not  giv- 
ing him  any,  meant  evidently  he  should  be  the  father  of 
his  whole  country.  This  makes  him  the  father  of  every 
child  in  the  land. 


102  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

But  that  is  not  all :  he  is  specially  the  father  of  our  chil- 
dren because  he  loved  them  ;  his  heart  went  out  toward  all 
the  little  ones  of  his  day.  The  lady  he  married  had  five  of 
her  own  :  to  these  their  step-father  was  most  warmly  de- 
voted. He  delighted,  for  their  pleasure,  to  gather  parties 
under  his  hospitable  roof;  and,  as  he  looked  on  their  games 
and  frolics,  he  became  a  child  himself.  When  one  of 
them,  a  beautiful  daughter,  lay  on  her  death-bed,  he  knelt 
at  her  side  in  earnest  prayer.  It  was  his  custom  to  notice 
children  wherever  he  met  them.  In  the  year  of  his  elec- 
tion to  the  Presidency  he  came  to  New  England.  An  aged 
lady  of  my  parish  in  Newburyport  told  me,  that,  when  he 
rode  through  that  town,  the  children,  of  whom  she  was  one, 
were  ranged  in  two  lines ;  and,  as  he  passed  them,  he 
bowed  to  each  side,  and  gave  them  a  smile  she  should  never 
forget. 

This  is  the  children's  day  because  Washington,  in  his  own 
childhood  and  youth,  was  a  pattern  of  some  of  the  finest 
qualities  of  character.  Wordsworth  says,  "  The  child  is 
the  father  of  the  man."  This  was  remarkably  true  of  Wash- 
ington. Every  thing  that  the  man  afterwards  became  was 
foreshown  in  the  boy.  As  a  man  he  was  noted  for  order. 
He  found  the  troops  on  Cambridge  Common  without  dis- 
cipline, and  inclined  to  irregularities  of  all  sorts  ;  but  he 
soon  brought  them  into  order.  He  would  allow  them  in 
no  personal  disputes  ;  and,  seeing  once  two  men  in  a  quar- 
rel, he  not  only  reproved  them,  but  laid  his  strong  arm  on 
their  shoulders  and  separated  them.  When  he  was  made 
President,  the  government  was  new,  and  many  things  were 
at  first  in  confusion  ;  but  he  moulded  them  into  shape,  and 
out  of  chaos  he  brought  harmony  and  order.  Go  back  to 
the  boy,  and  you  find  him  systematic  in  all  he  did.  At 
thirteen  he  drew  up  fifty-seven  "  Rules  of  Behavior."  You 
see  already  in  them  the  man.  "Think  before  you  speak." 
"  It  is  good  manners  to  prefer  them  to  whom  we  speak 
before  ourselves."  "  Speak  not  injurious  words,  neither  in 
jest  nor  earnest."     "  Honor  and  obey  your  parents."     "  Let 


THE    CHILDREN  S    ENTERTAINMENT.  IO3 

your  recreations  be  manful,  not  sinful."  "Whenever  you 
speak  of  God,  let  it  be  seriously,  in  reverence."  "Labor  to 
keep  alive  in  your  breast  that  little  spark  of  celestial  fire 
called  conscience." 

As  a  boy,  Washington  made  the  best  use  of  all  his  privi- 
leges :  these  were  very  few.  One  of  his  father's  servants 
(named  "Old  Hobby")  taught  him  his  first  lessons  in  what 
was  called  a  "field-school."  Afterwards  he  went  to  a  com- 
mon school,  and  poor  enough  it  was;  but  the  boy  was 
noticed  as  "inquisitive,  docile,  and  diligent."  Reading, 
writing,  arithmetic,  and,  later,  book-keeping  and  survey- 
ing, were  all  he  studied ;  but  on  these  he  built  up  a  good 
education.  He  taught  himself  grammar.  His  early  hand- 
writing is  legible,  even,  and  handsome ;  and  his  style  in 
composition  is  a  model,  —  clear,  forcible,  and  pure.  This 
self-culture  followed  him  through  life. 

Washington  was  remarkable  in  his  manhood  for  bodily 
development,  vigor,  and  beauty.  He  laid  the  foundation 
for  this  in  his  boyhood.  Not  stupid  and  sluggish,  but  active 
and  alert,  he  was  fond  of  sports,  especially  feats  of  bodily 
skill.  His  training  prepared  him  for  the  hard  campaigns 
of  war.  No  soldier  could  endure  more  in  camp  or  field 
than  he.  On  to  age  he  continued  a  man  marked  for  his 
physical  energy.  Seeing  two  men  engaged  in  pitching 
stones,  said  he,  "I  think  I  can  beat  that;"  and  he  did 
beat  it. 

Washington  began  life  by  obedience.  He  had  an  excel- 
lent mother,  left  a  widow  when  he  was  but  four  years  old. 
She  taught  him  well,  both  by  precept  and  example.  She 
read  good  books  to  him  :  we  find  among  these  Sir  Matthew 
Hale's  "  Contemplations,"  full  of  wise  advice.  Many  of 
its  rules,  read  to  the  boy,  bore  good  fruits  in  the  man  ;  made 
him  true  to  himself,  true  to  his  God,  true  to  his  country. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  had  the  offer  of  a  midship- 
man's place,  and  was  disposed  to  accept  it.  But  his  mother 
found  it  hard  to  part  with  him  :  her  wishes  were  his  law, 
and  he  gave  up  the  plan. 


104  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

This  earl}'^  habit  of  obedience  fitted  Washington  to  rise 
in  after-life,  and  to  fill  well  all  the  offices  he  held.  Only  by 
obeying  do  we  learn  to  command.  The  two  things  were 
seen  in  the  boy.  His  schoolmates  used  to  form  little  com- 
panies, and  George  Washington  was  alwa3's  chosen  com- 
mander. Sometimes  disputes  would  spring  up  between 
them,  and  he  was  sure  to  be  selected  as  arbiter.  We  see 
in  all  this  the  germs  of  that  wise  general  who  could  recon- 
cile jealousies  and  alienations  among  officers  on  his  staff" 
and  in  the  whole  army,  —  germs  of  that  grand  conciliation 
which  could  keep  or  restore  the  peace  in  a  President's 
cabinet  made  up  of  such  conflicting  elements  as  Jefferson, 
Hamilton,  and  Knox. 

Look  at  the  boy,  and  you  see  candor  in  judging  others, 
a  modest  estimate  of  himself,  economy  and  industry  in  his 
studies  and  his  work  as  a  surveyor  and  on  the  farm.  From 
his  mother  he  learned  truthfulness,  sincerity,  and  firmness 
in  the  right.  Out  of  a  loyal  childhood  came  those  traits, 
which,  morally  speaking,  were  the  crown  and  glory  of  his 
life,  —  conscientiousness,  an  integrity  on  which  time  and 
temptation  left  no  stain,  and  that  self-sacrifice  which  made 
him  a  pure  patriot,  a  brave  and  victorious  general,  an  able, 
all-comprehending  president. 

I  have  spoken  of  his  early  schools,  and  of  his  model 
mother  as  doing  so  much  toward  educating  and  building  up 
this  peerless  man.  I  wish  to  say,  in  closing,  that  the  corner- 
stone of  this  noble  edifice  was  laid,  under  God,  by  his  own 
hand.  Washington  had  a  great  deal  to  contend  with  in  his 
nature.  A  biographer  truly  says,  "His  temperament  was 
ardent,  and  his  passions  strong :  it  was  his  constant  effort, 
and  his  ultimate  triumph,  to  check  the  one,  and  to  subdue 
the  other." 

July  3,  1775,  Washington  took  command  of  the  Ameri- 
can army  on  this  spot.  For  that  arduous  position  so  tri- 
umphantly sustained,  and  for  his  whole  subsequent  life,  he 
prepared  by  ^rsi  taking'  command  of  himself. 


THE    children's    ENTERTAINMENT.  IO5 


REMARKS  OF  JAMES  ALEXANDER,  Esq., 

Of  Charlotteville,  Virginia. 

On  beiftg  introduced  by  Mr.  Woodward  as  coming 
from  Virginia,  the  home  of  George  Washington  and  Thomas 
Jefferson,  Mr.  Alexander  said  that  he  felt  it  a  great  honor 
to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  This  morning,  in  march- 
ing under  the  venerable  elm,  where,  one  hundred  years  ago, 
George  Washington,  of  Virginia,  unsheathed  his  sword, 
and  took  Qommand  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  he  had 
reverently  uncovered  his  head,  while  his  heart  swelled 
with  devout  adoration  to  the  Almighty  for  having  given 
to  this  country  so  pure  a  patriot  and  unselfish  a  man  as 
George  Washington,  whom  all  America  delights  to  honor 
as  the  Father  of  his  Country.  In  Virginia,  infant  lips  are 
taught  to  speak  the  name  of  Washington  ;  and  long  may  it 
continue  thus  to  be  !  In  Massachusetts,  as  in  Virginia,  the 
name  of  Washington  is  the  synonyme  of  all  that  is  great, 
good,  virtuous,-  and  noble.  The  orator  of  the  day,  as 
well  as  the  eloquent  poet,  had  rendered  him  and  Virginia 
full  justice. 

Mr.  Alexander,  on  turning  around,  said  that  the  sight 
of  the  bright  constellation  of  stars  (young  ladies  repre- 
senting the  States  in  the  Union)  fairly  bewildered  him. 
It  was  a  grand  vision,  a  dazzling  galaxy  of  light  and 
beauty.  He  would,  however,  pay  his  obeisance  to  the 
fair  one  in  that  galaxy  w^ho  bore  across  her  bosom,  in  letters 
of  gold,  "Virginia;"  and  bowing  to  the  young  lady,  the 
young  lady  arising,  the  audience  gave  three  cheers  for  the 
State  she  represented. 

Mr.  Alexander  alluded  to  his  Virginia  home,  where  the 
first  thing  he  saw  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  at  night, 
was  Monticello,  the  home  and  the  grave  of  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son, who  penned  the  immortal  Declaration  of  Independence  ; 
the  wisest  sage  and  purest  patriot  of  any  age,  whose  prin- 
ciples were  destined  to  mould  and  influence  governments  to 
the  most  remote  period  of  time. 

14 


I06  CAMBRIDGE  CENTENNIAL. 

Mr.  Alexander  here  alluded  to  a  visit  of  the  great  Massa- 
chusetts statesman,  Daniel  Webster,  to  Thomas  Jefferson, 
and  the  way  the  Sabbath  was  spent  by  these  two  great  men 
in  discussing  the  beauties  of  the  Bible  ;  Mr.  Webster  reading, 
from  a  folio  of  the  Scriptures  of  the  year  1458,  some  of 
the  sublime  passages  in  Jeremiah,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  saying 
that  the  Sunday  schools  presented  the  only  legitimate  means, 
under  the  Constitution,  of  avoiding  the  rock  on  which  the 
French  republic  was  w^recked.  Mr.  Jefferson  also  said  on 
that  occasion,  "  I  have  always  said,  and  always  will  say,  that 
the  studious  perusal  of  the  sacred  volume  will  make  better 
citizens,  better  fathers,  and  better  husbands." 

To  the  thousands  of  children  before  me,  said  Mr.  Alex- 
ander, all  of  whom,  perhaps,  are  Sunday-school  scholars, 
what  better  advice  could  be  given  than  the  words  of  the 
sage  of  Monticello?  Mr.  Alexander  said  he  had  been  a 
scholar  fifty-nine  years  ago  in  Christ  Church  Sunday  School, 
in  the  then  town  of  Boston  ;  and  he  had  never  forgotten  the 
teachings  of  his  instructors,  and  would  cherish  them  to 
the  end  of  life.  ''Remember  the  Sabbath-day,  and  keep  it 
holy,"  is  as  binding  now  as  it  was  when  first  promulgated 
from  Mount  Sinai.  The  desecration  of  the  sabbath-day 
leads  to  all  other  vices,  and  tempts  men  to  wickedness,  and 
corrupts  their  moral  nature.  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  letter 
giving  an  account  of  his  visit  to  Thomas  Jefferson,  said, 
"  The  sabbath  school  is  one  of  the  great  institutions  of  the 
day.  It  leads  our  youth  in  the  path  of  truth  and  morality, 
and  makes  them  good  men  and  useful  citizens.  As  a  school 
of  religious  instruction,  it  is  of  inestimable  value.  As  a 
civil  institution,  it  is  priceless.  It  has  done  more  to  preserve 
our  liberties  than  grave  statesmen  and  armed  soldiers. 
Let  it,  then,  be  fostered  and  preserved  until  the  end  of 
time.  I  once  defended  a  man  charged  with  the  awful 
crime  of  murder.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  trial,  I  asked 
him  what  could  have  induced  him  to  stain  his  hands  with 
the  blood  of  a  fellow-being.  Turning  his  blood-shot  eyes 
full   upon   me,  he  replied,    'Mr.  Webster,   in  my  youth  I 


THE    children's    ENTERTAINMENT.  10/ 

spent  the  holy  Sabbath  in  evil  amusements,  instead  of  fre- 
quenting the  house  of  prayer  and  praise.'" 

Mr.  Alexander  returned  his  thanks  to  the  audience  for 
the  attention  they  had  given  him  in  his  desultory  remarks, 
saying  he  would  carry  with  him  to  his  Virginian  home  the 
recollections  of  this  day.  May  God  bless  our  common 
country  ! 


UNDER   THE    WASHINGTON   ELM. 
By   Rev.   Wm.    Newell,    D.D.* 

What  broke  a  hundred  years  ago 

The  stillness  of  the  Muses'  seat? 
It  was  no  village  muster's  show, 

No  common  pageant  of  the  street. 

Seen  in  the  sunlight  of  the  past, 

We  read  its  true  historic  worth  ; 
Through  the  soft  halo  round  it  cast 

Our  eyes  discern  a  nation's  birth. 

Under  the  Massachusetts  Elm 

Stood  the  Virginian's  noble  form, 
Our  brave,  wise  pilot  at  the  helm 
In  war  and  peace,  in  calm  and  storm. 

And  there,  on  that  bright,  busy  day. 

From  farm-house,  work-shop,  college,  drawn, 

Our  patriot  sires,  in  armed  array. 

Welcomed  with  joy  their  Washington. 

Chosen  by  God  to  work  his  will, 

His  more  than  kingly  place  he  found : 

The  work  begun  on  Bunker  Hill 
He  with  a  glorious  issue  crowned. 

*  Dr.  Newell  was  pastor  of  the  First  Parish  in  Cambridge  from  1830 
to  1868,  and  preached  in  the  ancient  edifice  in  which  Washington  wor- 
shipped at  times  during  his  stay  in  Cambridge,  until  the  dedication  of  the 
new  church  built  for  the  parish  in  1833. 


I08  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

And  the  blue  heavens  upon  him  smiled 
The  angels  smiled  —  through  tears, 

Seeing  the  bloody  heaps  uppiled 
Along  the  seven  dark  years. 

Up  from  the  sheath  his  sword  ! 

It  flashed  o'er  land  and  sea  : 
With  it  went  forth  the  word, 

"  Our  country  shall  be  free  !  " 

Under  the  summer  sky, 

Around  the  towering  tree, 
Uprose  the  people's  cry, 
"  Our  country  shall  be  free  !  " 

Through  the  still  solitudes, 
O'er  meadow,  field,  and  knoll, 

Into  sweet  Auburn's  woods 

Was  borne  the  war-drum's  roll. 

Back  from  old  Harvard's  walls 
And  from  the  house  of  prayer 

Rang  Freedom's  trumpet-calls 
On  the  New-England  air. 

Echoed  from  town  to  town 
The  stirring  summons  went ; 

And  all  hearts  beat  as  one, 
On  one  great  purpose  bent. 

Shoulder  to  shoulder  then 

North,  South,  and  East  and  West, 

Stood  on  each  battle-plain. 
Forward  together  pressed  ; 

And  marching,  side  by  side, 
To  one  dear  country  bound, 

Together  fought  and  died, 

With  common  laurels  crowned. 

And  what  with  blood  they  bought. 
And  what  they  won  with  tears, 

Blessings  beyond  their  thought 
Fill  the  centennial  years. 


THE    children's    ENTERTAINMENT.  ^OQ 

Thanks  to  their  God  and  ours 

For  duty  nobly  done  ! 
Strew  we  your  graves  with  flowers, 

Soldiers  of  Washington. 

His  honored  elm  still  lives 

'Mid  nature's  wear  and  strife, 
Shelter  and  shade  still  gives. 

Though  scarred  and  shorn  its  life  ; 

Welcomes  with  joy  and  pride 

The  well-remembered  day, 
And,  in  age  glorified. 

Awaits  its  doomed  decay. 

And  methinks,  at  this  feast  of  centennial  cheer, 
From  its  soft-rustling  leaves  solemn  voices  I  hear :  — 

"Glory  enough,"  it  saith  : 

"  Toll  now  my  funeral-knell : 
Mine  the  delight  in  death 

This  hour  to  see.     Farewell !  " 

With  the  word  of  farewell,  from  our  patriarch  tree 
Other  words  would  I  speak  that  are  whispered  to  me :] — 

"  What  outstood  the  storm  under  Washington's  hand. 

And,  grown  in  God's  sunshine,  o'ershadows  the  land. 

Tree  of  Liberty,  nourished  with  blood  at  the  root, 

Whose  seeds  scattered  wide  will  bear  more  and  more  fruit 

For  the  healing  of  nations  and  righting  of  wrong. 

Oh  !  keep  it,  God's  gift,  root  and  branch,  sound  and  strong. 

Its  beauty  the  eyes  of  all  nations  will  draw 

If  fenced  in  with  reason  and  guarded  by  law, 

In  a  linked  band  of  States,  fired  with  national  pride, 

As  under  the  old  flag  they  march  side  by  side. 

For  twin  growths  in  our  soil  that  no  changes  can  sever 

Stand  Union  and  Liberty  now  and  for  ever." 

And  under  the  sacred  memorial  tree, 

With  prayers  for  the  nation  that  is  and  to  be, 

Here  and  now,  young  and  old,  oh !  let  us  renew 

The  patriot's  vows  to  the  Red,  White,  and  Blue  ; 

To  the  flag  that  we  hold  the  more  dear  for  its  scars. 

With  its  stars  shining  bright,  and  the  xvJioIc  of  its  stars." 


no  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

Hear,  O  God  !  thy  children's  prayer, 

As  on  this  glad  day  we  swear 

To  our  country  to  be  true 

In  what  we  say  and  what  we  do  ; 

And,  when  the  word  our  country  gives, 

Offer  our  fortunes  and  our  lives. 

God,  our  Father,  hear  us  now. 
And  record  the  solemn  vow. 

Hear,  O  God  !  thy  children's  prayer. 
As  on  this  glad  day  we  swear 
Blood-bought  Freedom  to  maintain 
With  the  blessings  in  its  train ; 
Giving  equal  rights  to  all, 
White  or  black,  in  hut  or  hall. 

God,  our  Father,  hear  us  now. 
And  record  the  solemn  vow. 

Hear,  O  God  !  thy  children's  prayer, 

As  on  this  glad  day  we  swear 

Our  great  Union  to  uphold 

Now,  as  in  the  days  of  old  : 

North  and  South,  and  East  and  West, 

In  each  other's  blessings,  blest. 

God,  our  Father,  hear  us  now. 
And  record  the  solemn  vow. 

All  that  makes  us  strong  and  great. 
Freedom's  fruits  in  Church  and  State, 
Help  us  in  thy  fear  to  hold. 
And  to  nobler  issues  mould. 
But  from  passion,  sin,  and  strife. 
If  the  Saviour  set  us  free. 
Ours  is  then  the  heavenward  life, 
Ours  the  sweetest  liberty. 


THE    CHILDREN  S    ENTERTAINMENT.  Ill 

After  the  benediction,  Mr.  Woodward  announced  that 
a  good  friend  of  the  children  had  provided  for  them  five 
hundred  pounds,  making  two  thousand  packages,  of  candy. 

The  generous  donor  had  decHned  to  allow  his  name  to 
be  announced,  but  had  yielded  to  a  request  to  allow  the 
experiment  of  spelling  it  with  a  "  magic  wand."  The  ex- 
periment being  tried,  and  the  necessary  catch-words  in- 
geniously put  by  Mr.  Woodward,  many  of  the  children 
quickly  discovered  the  name  to  be  "  Samuel  B.  Rindge  ;  " 
after  which  the  packages  were  distributed,  and  the  enthu- 
siastic children  closed  their  entertainment  with  tumultuous 
cheers. 


THE    EVENING    CONCERT. 


At  sunset,  a  national  salute  of  thirty-seven  guns  was 
fired  by  Battery  A. 

From  six  to  eight  o'clock,  the  bells  on  Christ  Church 
were  chimed  by  Mr.  Henry  P.  Munroe. 

At  eight  o'clock,  a  concert  was  given  on  the  Common 
by  Edmands'  Military  Band,  Thomas  O.  Edmands  leader; 
and  the  following  chorus,  under  direction  of  Augustus  W. 
Fix  :  — 


Fh'st  Tenor. 
Daniel  C.  McCallar. 
James  F.  Bird. 
Ezra  H.  Stevens. 
George  J.  Bird. 
Jacob  B.  Shaw. 
Charles  Grieves. 
William  R.   Bateman. 

First  Bass. 
B.  Otis  Danforth. 
Herbert  E.  Valentine. 
Henry  Stevens. 
Albert  J.  Sawyer. 
Carlos  Nudd. 


Second  Tenor. 
Charles  H.  Danforth. 
Edward  Davies. 
Charles  J.  Wood. 
John  W.  Wood. 
William  A.  Hunnewell. 
Roger  S.  Rundlett. 

Second  Bass. 
John  F.  Ward. 
John  S.  Sawyer. 
Charles  Bates. 
Benjamin  L.  Ward. 
Francis  L.  Pratt. 


PROGRAMME. 


1.  National  Airs  . 

2.  American  Hymn 


Band. 


Keller. 


Chorus. 
'5 


I  14  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL. 

3.  Overture  Brillante,  "Vallei  des  Roses  " Rolle. 

Band. 

4.  Praise  of  the  Soldier Boieldieu, 

Chorus. 

5.  Waltzes,  "Tausend  und  eine  Nachts" Strauss. 

Band. 

6.  "  How  have  I  loved  thee,  Native  Land  !  "  ......     Mohring. 

Chorus. 

7.  Quickstep,  "  Silver  Threads  among  the  Gold  "...     Downing. 

Band. 

8.  a.  "  How  can  I  leave  Thee  ? " O'amer. 

b.  Drinking  Song Mohring. 

Chorus. 

g.     Polka  for  Cornet Selected. 

Solo  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Boardman. 

ID.     Oh  !  Shout,  Men  of  Strength Tenney. 

Chorus. 

1 1 .  Centennial  Hymn Converse. 

Band. 

12.  "  To  thee,  O  Country ! " •     •     •     Eichberg. 

Chorus. 

13.  Selections  from  "  La  Fille  de  Madame  Angot  "    .     .     .     Lecocq. 

Band. 

14.  Artillerists'  Oath Adams. 

Chorus. 

15.  Waltzes '-Girofle  Girofla" Lecocq. 

Band. 

16.  a.  "  He  who  is  Upright  " Flenwiing. 

b.  "  Bright  Sword  of  Liberty  " Weber. 

Chorus. 

17.  Serenade Boulcotird. 

Band. 

18.  The  Gay  Pilgrim Mangold. 

Chorus. 

19.  Concert  Medley Selected. 

Band. 

20.  The  Watch  on  the  Rhine Wilheld. 

Chorus. 

21.  \.  Galop,  "  Reito " Piefke. 

2.  Sweet  Home Payne. 

Band. 


THE    EVENING    CONCERT.  I15 

From  eight  thousand  to  ten  thousand  persons  were  esti- 
mated to  have  been  present  on  the  Common  during  the 
evening,  besides  large  numbers  in  carriages  parked  in  the 
surrounding  streets. 

Two  thousand  Chinese-lanterns  adorned  the  various 
paths,  the  monument,  and  the  ancient  elm  ;  and  the  whole 
scene  was  enlivened  and  made  effective  by  brilliant-colored 
fires,  which  were  burned  without  intermission  till  eleven 
o'clock,  filling  the  place  with  a  dazzling  radiance.  Upon 
the  top  of  the  Union-Railway  office  was  placed  a  powerful 
calcium-light,  which  gave  a  magnificent  effect  to  the  decor- 
ations in  Harvard  Square  and  to  the  college-buildings. 


It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  there  was  no  accident  to  cast  a 
shadow  upon  the  festivities  of  the  day. 


SOLDIERS'     MONUMENT,     CAMBRIDGE. 


GOVERNMENT 

OF 

THE      CITY      OF      CAMBRIDGE, 

1S75. 


MAYOR. 

Hon.  ISAAC  BRADFORD. 

ALDERMEN. 

Walter -S.  Blanchard,  George  H.  Howard, 

Benjamin  F.  Davies,  John  H.  Leighton, 

Russell  S.  Edwards,  Samuel  L.  Montague, 

Leander  Greely,  Jonas  C.  Wellington. 

Leander  M.  Hannum,  William  L.  Whitney. 

Aldermen  by  Wards.  —  Ward  I.  Alderman  Whitney.  Ward  II. 
Aldermen  Blanchard  and  Montague.  Ward  III.  Aldermen  Davies, 
Howard,  and  Leighton.  Ward  IV.  Aldermen  Greely  and  Hannum. 
Ward  V.    Aldermen  Edwards  and  Wellington. 

Clerk. — Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

COMMON     COUNCIL. 

George  F.  Piper,  President. 

Ward  I.  —  Lemuel  Kempton,  Charles  Moore,  John  T.  G.  Nichols, 
Walter  S.  Swan. 

Ward  II.  —  Henry  D.  Forbes,  Thomas  A.  Graham,  David  HefFernan, 
James  Mellen,  Jr.,  Hibbard  P.  Ross. 

Ward  III.  —  John  Clary,  William  E.  Doyle,  Ale.xander  Eraser,  Joseph 
J.  Kelly,  Charles  Quinn. 

Ward  IV,  —  Frank  A.  Allen,  Edmund  Reardon,  Sulvilyer  H.  Sanborn, 
John  Stone. 

Ward  V. — Jeremiah  Murphy,  George  F.  Piper. 

Clerk :  Jos.  Warren  Cotton.  Pai^e :  Allan  P.  Kelly. 


Ct'ly  Clerk. — Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Clerk  of  Cojumittees.  —  Jos.  Warren  Cotton, 

City  Solicitor. — John  W.  Hammond. 

City  Engineer. — Jos i ah  G.  Chase. 

.Superintendent  of  Streets.  — George  L.  Cade. 

Superintendent  of  Lamps.  —  John  Cahill. 

Commissioner  on  IV.  Boston  and  Craigie^s  Bridges.  —  Ezra  Parmentcr. 

City  Messenger :  Francis  L.  Pratt.     Ass' t  Messenger :  Charles  A.  Gay. 


Il8  CAMBRIDGE    CENTENNIAL, 


FINANCIAL    DEPARTMENT. 

Auditor  of  Accounts.  — Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Treasurer.  —  Joseph  Whitney. 

Assessors. — Levi  L.  Gushing,  Jr.,  Artemas  Z.  Brown,  Andrew  J. 
Green. 

Assistant  Assessors. — Thomas  Stearns,  Samuel  Sanders^  Bernard  J. 
McGormic,  Benjamin  F.  Nourse,  James  H.  Gutter. 

Commissioners  on  Sinking  Funds  of  the  City.  —  The  Mayor,  Gity 
Treasurer.  Alderman  Whitney,  and  the  President  of  the  Gommon  Goun- 
cil,  ex  officio  J  Lewis  Hall,  Hamlin  R.  Harding,  John  M.  Tyler. 

Trustees  of  Sinking  Fimd  of  Water  Loan.  —  The  Mayor,  Gity  Treas- 
urer, and  the  President  of  the  Gommon  Gouncil. 

COMMITTEES    OF    THE     CITY    COUNCIL. 

JOINT   STANDING   COMMITTEES. 

On  Finance.  —  The  Mayor.  Aldermen:  William  L.  Whitney,  Sam- 
uel L.  Montague.  Co/nmon  Council :  The  President,  Edmund  Reardon, 
James  Mellen,  Jr.,  Joseph  J.  Kelly,  Walter  S.  Swan,  Frank  A.  Allen. 

On  Public  Instruction. —  ^/(/^/'ot^;?.-  Benjamin  F.  Davies,  Leander 
M.  Hannum.  Comtnon  Council :  The  President,  Joseph  J.  Kelly,  Henry 
D.  Forbes,  Walter  S.  Swan. 

On  Ordinances. — -Aldermen :  Walter  S.  Blanchard,  Leander  Greely. 
Common  Co7incil :  John  T.  G.  Nichols,  John  Stone,  Henry  D.  Forbes. 

On  Accounts.  — Aldermen  :  Russell  S.  Edwards,  George  H.  Howard. 
Common  Council :  John  Glary,  Frank  A.  Allen,  John  T.  G.  Nichols. 

On  Public  Property.  —  Aldermen:  Leander  M.  Hannum,_Samuel  L. 
Montague.  Common  Council :  John  Glary,  Lemuel  Kempton,  Jeremiah 
Murphy. 

On  the  Almshouse.  — ^/^^r;«^«.-  Samuel  L.  Montague,  Jonas  G. 
Wellington.  Common  Coiincil :  Alexander  Fraser,  William  E.  Doyle, 
David  Heffernan. 

On  Roads  and  Bridges.— Aldermen  :  William  L.  Whitne}',  Walter 
S.  Blanchard.  Common  Council:  Edmund  Reardon,  Thomas  A.  Gra- 
ham, Gharles  Ouinn. 

On  Fuel.  —  Aldermen:  Benjamin  F.  Davies,  Samuel  L.  Montague. 
Common  Council :  Alexander  Fraser,  Gharles  Moore,  David  Heffernan. 

On  Lamps.  —  Aldermen:  Leander  M.  Hannum,  Russell  S.  Edwards. 
Common  Council :  Gharles  Ouinn,  Hibbard  P.  Ross,  Gharles  Moore. 

On  Watering  Streets. — Aldermen:  George  H.  Howard,  Leander 
Greely.  Common  Council :  James  Mellen,  Jr.,  Lemuel  Kempton,  Jere- 
miah Murphy. 

On  Printing.  —  Alderman  :  William  L.  Whitney.  Common  Coun- 
cil: John  .Stone,  Sulvilyer  H.  Sanl^orn. 

On  the  Fire  Department.  —  Aldermen:  George  H.  Howard,  Lean- 
der Greely.  Common  Council :  Sulvilyer  H.  Sanborn,  Thomas  A.  Gra- 
ham, Lemuel  Kempton. 


THE    CITY    GOVERNMENT.  II9 

On  City  Engineering.  —  Aldermen:  Walter  S.  Blanchard,  Russell 
S.  Edwards.  Common  Council :  Hibbard  P.  Ross,  Joseph  J.  Kelly,  Wil- 
liam E.  Doyle. 

On  Assessors'  Department.  —  Alder/nan  :  John  H.  Leighton.  Com- 
mon Council :  Charles  Moore,  Hibbard  P.  Ross. 

JOINT    SPECIAL    COMMITTEE. 

On  Soldiers  and  their  Families.  —  Aldermen:  Jonas  C.  Welling- 
ton, John  H.  Leighton.  Common  Council :  John  T.  G.  Nichols,  James 
Mellen,  Jr.,  William  E.  Doyle,  John  Stone,  Jeremiah  Murphy. 

STANDING    COMMITTEES    OF  THE    BOARD    OF    MAYOR 
AND    ALDERMEN. 

On  Police.  — The  Mayor,  William  L.  Whitney,  Samuel  L.  Montague, 
John  H.  Leighton. 

On  the  Fire  Department. — George  H.  Howard,  Leander  Greely, 
Jonas  C.  WeUington. 

On  Roads  and  Bridges.  —  William  L.  Whitney,  Walter  S.  Blan- 
chard, Benjamin  F.  Davies. 

On  Sewers  and  Drains.  —  Leander  Greely,  Jonas  C.  Wellington, 
John  H.  Leighton. 

On  Licenses.  —  Russell  S.  Edwards,  Leander  M.  Hannum,  George 
H.  Howard. 

On  Health. — John  H.  Leighton,  William  L.  Whitney,  Walter  S. 
Blanchard. 

STANDING    COMMITTEES   OF   THE  COMMON    COUNCIL. 

On  Elections  and  Returns.  —  Alexander  Eraser,  Edmund  Rear- 
don,  Thomas  A.  Graham. 

On  Bills  in  the  Second  Reading. — John  Clary,  Frank  A.  Allen, 
David  Heffernan. 

On  Enrolled  Ordinances.  —  Sulvilyer  H.  Sanborn,  Henry  D. 
Forbes,  Walter  S.  Swan. 

BOARD   OF    HEALTH. 

The  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 

SURVEYORS   OF   HIGHWAYS. 

The  same  persons  who  compose  the  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 


SCHOOL    COMMITTEE. 

Isaac  Bradford,  Mayor,  ex  officio.  Chairman. 

Ward  I.  —  Andrew  P.  Peabody,  Edwin  B.  Hale,  John  L.  Hildrcth. 

,,  IL  —  William  S.  Karr,  Edward  R.  Cogswell,  Henry  Hinckley. 

„  in.  — Samuel  W.  McDaniel,  John  O'Brien,  Albert  L.  Norris. 

„  IV.  — George  E.  McNeil,  James  A.  Dow,  George  R.  Leavitt. 

„  V.  —  Wm.  S.  Apsey,  Philip  R.  Ammidon,  Theop.  G.  Wadman. 


120  CAMBRIDGE  CENTENNIAL. 

Secretary:  W.  W.  Wellington.  Sieperinfendeut  of  Schools :  Francis 
Cogswell. 

N.B. — -For  list  of  teachers  in  the  public  schools,  see  p.  124. 

OVERSEERS    OF   THE    POOR. 

The  Mayor,  ex  officio,  Chair/nan.  One  Year:  Benjamin  F.  Wyeth, 
George  D.  Chamberlain,  Jeremiah  H.  Mulcahy.  Two  Years :  Sylvanus 
M.  Parsons,  Joseph  Nevvmarch,  Lewis  B.  Guyer. 

Clerk.  —  Benjamin  F.  Wyeth. 

Warden  of  the  Ahnshouse.  —  Joseph  W.  Averill.         ..^ 

Physicia7i  of  the  Ahiishoiise. — James  R.  Morse,  M.D. 

REPRESENTATIVES    IN    GENERAL    COURT. 
Levi  L.  Gushing,  Jr.,  Daniel  H.  Thurston,  Edward  Kendall,  Austin  C. 
Wellington,  Jeremiah  W.  Coveney. 

POLICE   COURT. 
Standing  yustice :  John  S.  Ladd.     Special  Justices :  Henry  W.  Muz- 
zey.  Woodward  Emery.     Clerk:  Thomas  Mclntire. 

WATER    DEPARTMENT. 

Cambridge  Water  Boara. —  The  Mayor,  and  President  of  the  Common 
Council,  ex  officio.  J.  Warren  Merrill,  Chester  W.  Kingsley  (President), 
Henry  L.  Eustis,  George  P.  Carter,  Samuel  Slocomb. 

Clerk.  —  Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Superintendent  of  Waterwotks.  —  Samuel  W.  Dudley. 

Water  Registrar.  —  Abiel  F.  Fifield. 

CAMBRIDGE    CEMETERY. 

Coinniissioners.  —  The    Mayor,   ex  officio.     George  T.  Gale,  William 
Page,  George  S.  Saunders,  Curtis  Davis,  George  R.  Brine,  John  M.  Tyler. 
Superintendent. — James  K.  Farwell. 

TRUSTEES    OF    DANA    LIBRARY. 
The  Mayor,  ex  officio,  Chairman.     Aldertnan :  William  L.  Whitney. 
Common  Council:  George  F.  Piper.     Citizens  at  Large  :  John  S.  March, 
Charles  Deane,  John  B.  Taylor.     Librarian :  Miss  Almira  L.  Hayward. 
Secretary  :  John  S.  March. 

TRUSTEES   OF   THE    DOWSE    INSTITUTE. 

The  Mayor,  and  President  of  the  Common  Council,  ex  officio.  John  C. 
Dodge,  William  W.  Wellington,  Willard  A.  Bullard. 

TRUSTEES    OF   THE   SANDERS    TEMPERANCE    FUND. 
The  Mayor,  and  President  of  the  Common  Council,  ex  officio.     Alder- 
man: Jonas  C.  Wellington.     Common  Council :  John  Clary,  John  Stone. 


THE    CITY    GOVERNMENT.  121 


FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 


Board  of  Engineers.  —  Chief  /Cngineej- :  Patrick  H.  Raymond. 
Assistant  Engineers:  First  Assistant,  Thomas  J.  Casey;  Second  As- 
sistant, Richard  F.  Tobin  ;  Third  Assistant,  Daniel  O'Connell ;  Fourth 
Assistant,  John  P.  Farmer,  Jr.  Clerk  of  the  Board :  John  P.  Far- 
mer, Jr. 

Steam  Fire-Eiigine  Company^  No.  0/u\  Foreman,  William  H.  Emory  ; 
yVi?.  Tiuo,  William  B.  Cade;  No.  Three,  William  Parker;  No.  Four, 
Benjamin  Young ;  No.  Five,  Francis  P.  Scanlan.  Hook-and-Ladder 
Company,  No.  One,  Foreman,  James  P.  Ewell ;  No.  Two,  Jame«  Dalton. 
Supply  Hose,  No.  One.  Driver,  Lewis  C.  Clark. 

POLICE    DEPARTMENT. 

Chief  of  Police.  —  George  H.  Copeland. 

Captains  of  Police.  —  District  I.  Timothy  Ames.  District  II.  Wil- 
liam Twist.     District  III.  John  L.  Boynton. 

Captain  of  Night  Police.  —  Frederick  W.  Hagar. 

Policemen. — District  I.  Thomas  D.  Cook,  James  B.  Morse,  Micah 
W.  Cook,  Andrew  Sproul,  Andrew  G.  Smith,  George  A.  Marston,  Benja- 
min Kennard,  L.  J.  Cloyes,  William  T.  Gibson,  James  Miller,  Leonard 
Shackford,  Daniel  Callahan,  William  H.  Fitzpatrick,  John  Le  Barron, 
Frederic  B.  Pullen,  Albert  D.  Cleveland,  Henry  M.  Tyler,  Alonzo  S. 
Harriman,  Thomas  W.  Penney,  WiUiam  Evans,  Jr.,  Hugh  McNamee. 
District  II.  Benjamin  F.  Bridden,  Daniel  Sherman,  James  H.  Parks, 
George  Wood,  Warner  W.  Simonds,  John  Coleman,  Calvin  C.  Smith, 
Luther  Hapgood,  Simon  D.  Hiscock,  Rufus  S.  Downe,  George  Cox, 
Charles  B.  Jones,  James  E.  Murray,  John  Little,  Thomas  S.  Hall,  Charles 
W.  Rugg,  William  Nickelson,  Lawrence  Ducy,  Michael  A.  Dalton,  James 
Daily,  James  S.  Alexander.  District  III.  William  Mullett,  Dennis  Cor- 
coran, Moses  W.  Hooper,  John  F.  Murray,  Matthew  R.  Moore,  Amos 
Jones,  David  N.  McCleary,  Stephen  E.  Day,  John  Collier,  Warren  A. 
Eaton,  Otis  Dennison,  John  W.  Skelley,  John  Jackson. 

Keeper  of  Lock-7ips.  —  George  H.  Copeland. 

Truant-Officers.  —  Mark  J.  Folsom,  Moses  M.  Child,  George  S. 
Dudley,  Augustus  P.  Griffing,  Francis  M.  Mason. 

Constables.  — C&oxgQ  H.  Copeland,  William  Twist,  John  L.  Boynton, 
John  C.  Burdakin,  Thomas  Work,  Thomas  Mclntire,  Charles  H.  Hun- 
newell,  Charles  J.  Adams,  James  F.  Jefferds,  John  W.  Skelley,  Warner 
W.  Simonds,  Thomas  D.  Cook,  Charles  L.  Russell,  Benjamin  King, 
Patrick  H.  Raymond,  Thomas  T.  Ferguson,  Timothy  Ames,  John  Cahill, 
*M.  S.  Busnach,  William  Dickson,  Edward  S.  English,  W.  A.  Taylor, 
Amos  Jones,  George  F.  McKenzie,  E.  B.  Ramsdell,  Michael  A.  Kecnan, 
Reuben  A.  Adams,  George  L.  Mitchell,  Calvin  Ford. 

Special  Policemen.  — v.  H.  Raymond,  Thomas  J.  Casey,  Joseph  H. 
Marvin,   Samuel   W.    Dudley,    Daniel  O'Connell,  John  P.   Farmer,  Jr., 

i6 


122  CAMBRIDGE  CENTENNIAL. 

Thomas  H.  Eames,  Edward  F.  Belcher,  Roland  Litchfield,  Charles  L. 
Russell,  William  L.  Locklin,  G.  C.  W,  Fuller,  J.  L.  P.  Ackers,  Charles 
H.  Wiggin,  B.  A.  Brown,  Lucius  A.  Buck,  James  F.  JefFerds,  Joseph  W. 
Averill,  Roland  Litchfield,  Jr.,  James  C.  Wilder,  Thomas  Mclntire,  James 
K.  Farwell,  Hiram  Nevons,  James  M.  Learned,  George  Henderson, 
George  Dale,  Jesse  H.  Kittredge,  George  Smith,  Charles  P.  Allen,  Sam- 
uel F.  Hunt,  George  J.  Sutton,  Joseph  Bebo,  Alexis  Brus.seau,  Anthony 
Chalifrau,  Patrick  ftunnigan,  Moore  R.  Homer,  Thomas  Cowen.  Noah 
M.  Cofran,  Benjamin  F.  Livingston,  Charles  A.  Gay,  James  W.  Lover- 
ing,  George  B.  Lothrop,  Orlando  B.  Richardson,  Richard  F.  Tobin, 
Charles  H.  Winslow,  Joseph  Collins,  E.  G.  Hall,  George  T.  Barrington, 
Michael  Ginty,  John  L.  Sproul,  Joseph  Smith,  William  Kelly,  E.  F. 
Young,  George  Putnam,  Thomas  Briney,  George  S.  Pike,  William  H. 
Grieves,  A.  A.  Barker,  G.  E.  S.  Hutchins,  William  Martin,  F.  W. 
Blumve,  Joseph  G.  Glazier,  Joseph  Moran,  Joshua  S.  Sanborn,  George 
W.  Wright,  George  W.  Metcalf,  George  T.  R.  Roberts,  George  Stott, 
Charles  A.  True,  Joseph  K.  Tarbox,  John  McGrath,  Walter  E.  Mellish, 
Joseph  Baker,  Thomas  Langlan,  Jacob  Foster,  Thomas  J.  Saunders, 
John  Mahady,  Alexander  F.  Shepherd,  Edward  E.  Farrar,  William  Hun- 
newell,  Daniel  R.  Melcher,  John  Hughes,  Frank  Goudraw,  Frederick  H. 
Greenwood,  Frank  J.  Curtis,  George  H.  Sherman,  George  E.  Goodwin, 
Francis  M.  Mason,  Mark  J.  Folsom,  Moses  M.  Child,  George  S.  Dudley, 
Augustus  P.  Griffing,  William  Porter,  Charles  H.  Stetson,  John  Axtman. 


Superintendent  of  Burial  Ground.,  Ward  I.  —  Benjamin  F.  Wyeth. 

Undertakers.  —  Benjamin  F.  Wyeth,  Roland  Litchfield,  Samuel  F. 
Hunt,  Thomas  Devens,  John  W.  Coveney,  Judson  Litchfield,  William 
Casey,  C.  Henry  Lockhart,  Alvah  A.  Hadley,  Benjamin  J.  Hoyt,  W.  A. 
Taylor,  William  C.  Walker. 

Anctioneers.  —  Samuel  R.  Knights,  G.  C.  W.  Fuller,  Oliver  R.  Osborn, 
Humphrey  L.  Snow,  Samuel  F.  Rugg,  Thomas  T.  Ferguson,  C.  F.  Boyn- 
ton,  John  C.  Farnham,  John  L.  Porter,  Edward  Burnham,  George  C. 
Hosmer,  George  O.  Knox,  Henry  A.  Burkett,  Benjamin  King,  Michael 
James  Moss,  Orrin  P.  Kinne,  John  R.  Fairbairn,  Edward  H.  Carter, 
George  F.  McKenzie,  Samuel  C.  Knights,  Jeremiah  W.  Coveney,  James 
C.  Wilder,  John  Cahill,  T.  W.  Ray,  Reuben  A.  Adams,  Edwin  P.  Hen- 
derson. 

Fence-Viewers.  —  George  B.  Lothrop,  Abiel  Goss,  Abel  Stevens. 

Field-Drivers.  —  The  several  policemen  of  Districts  I.,  II.,  and  III. 

Measurers  of  Wood  and  Bark.  — John  R.  Taylor,  Francis  H.  White, 
Benjamin  J.  Hoyt,  J.  Henry  Wyman,  John  F.  Brine. 

Pound-Keepers. — James  Gilligan,  Thomas  D.  Cook,  George  A.  Mars- 
ton. 

Fish-Officers.  —  Thomas  D.  Cook,  Joseph  W.  Averill,  Andrew  Sproul. 

Hay-Weii^hers.  —  Timothy  Sullivan,  William  C.  Brooks,  William  H. 
Dodge,  Francis  H.  White,  John  F.  Brine,  Harrison  G.  Woodward. 


THE    CITY    GOVERNMENT. 


123 


Coal-lVeighe>-s.—]zn\Q5  F.  Jefferds,  John  F.  Brine,  Thomas  Mclntire, 
William  A.  Hunnewell,  J.  Henry  Wyman,  William  C.  Brooks,  Jones  Val- 
entine, Alfred  H.  Wellington,  Harrison  G.  Woodward,  Malachi  Mullen. 

Weigher  of  Boilers  and  Heavy  Machinety.  —  Harrison  G.  Woodward. 

Weighers.  — ]o%^^\\  W.  Averill,  Patrick  Dunnigan,  Edmund  Reardon, 
James  H.  Reardon,  Henry  Hooker,  Thomas  Ralph,  George  W.  Wright, 
Joshua  S.  Sanborn. 

Sealer  of  Weights  and  Measures,  Inspector  of  Milk,  Inspector  of 
Charcoal  Baskets,  and  Measurer  of  Grain.  —  John  Cahill. 

Surveyors  of  Mechanics'  Work.  —  William  S.  Barbour,  William  A. 
Mason,  John  S.   Pollard. 

Measurer  and  Surveyor.  —  E.  F.  Young. 

Inspectors  of  Junk-Shops.  —  George  H.  Copeland,  Amos  Jones, 
Warner  W.  Simonds. 

WARD   OFFICERS. 

Ward  I. —  Warden:  Henry  R.  Glover.  Clerk:  Francis  L.  Pratt. 
Inspectors :  Joseph  Williams,  Edmund  Miles,  Nathaniel  Munroe. 

Ward  \\.— Warden:  Charles  F.  Thurston.  Clerk:  Harry  B.  Win- 
nett.  Inspectors:  Walter  H.  Harding,  Charles  E.  Pierce,  George  A. 
Leonard. 

Ward  III. —  Warden:  Luther  L.  Parker.  Clerk:  Andrew  Fogg. 
Inspectors  :  Augustus  W.  Fix,  Daniel  Shaughnessy,  James  J.  Colman. 

Ward  IV.  —  Warden  :  Charles  L.  Russell.  Clerk :  Benjamin  F. 
Hastings.  Inspectors :  James  F.  White,  William  H.  Ackers,  Zephaniah 
H.  Thomas,  Jr. 

Ward  V. —  Warden:  Francis  M.  Mason.  Clerk  :  Francis  H.  White. 
Inspectors :  Charles  L.  Fuller,  Henry  K.  Parsons,  Charles  F.  Fay. 


TEACHERS   IN   THE   PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 


High  School.  —  Lyman  R.  Williston,  William  F.  Bradbury,  Theo- 
dore P.  Adams,  John  Orne,  Jr.,  Solon  F.  Whitne)',  Mary  F.  Peirce, 
Augusta  L.  Brigham,  Olive  E.  Fairbanks,  Hannah  Gleason,  Emma  A. 
Scudder,  Mary  C.  C.  Goddard,  Emma  F.  Munroe. 

Grammar  Schools.  —  Allston :  Benjamin  W.  Roberts,  Lizzie  B. 
Winnett,  Emma  F.  King,  Emily  R.  Pitkin,  Sarah  G.  Hinkley,  Hannah 
L.  Hill,  Minnie  L.  McKay,  Hattie  E.  Keith,  Emma  E.  Perkins,  Susan 
H.  Ricker,  Ida  G.  Smith,  Lucia  E.  Whiting,  Etta  Woods.  Harvard : 
Aaron  B.  Magoun,  Augusta  H.  Dodge,  Ada  H.  Wellington,  Margaret  B. 
Wellington,  Mary  E.  Wyeth,  Susan  F.  Athearn,  Emily  F.  Damon,  Sarah 
E.  Dyer,  Mary  F.  Emerson,  Sarah  E.  Golden,  Margaret  R.  Hodgkins, 
Sarah  E.  Hearsey,  Lydia  S.  King,  Annie  M.  Leiand,  Susan  E.  Merrill, 
Ellen  Merrick.  Puinai/i :  James  S.  Barrell,  Sarah  M.  Burnham,  Ella  R. 
Grieves,  Eliza  M.  Hussey,  Charlotte  A.  Brown,  Augusta  G.  Mirick, 
Sarah  L.  Merrill,  Addie  Stone,  Marion  H.  Burnham,  Carrie  Close. 
Sliepard :  Daniel  B.  Wheeler,  Mary  C.  Cooke,  Emma  M.  Taylor,  Estelle 
H.  Varney,  John  Wilson,  Sara  J.  French,  S.  F.  Gordon,  Harriet  L.  Hay- 
ward,  Julia  H.  Osgood,  Sarah  A.  Rand,  Cora  M.  Wheeler.  Thoriidike  : 
Ruel  H.  Fletcher,  Ellen  M.  Parker,  Martha  A.  Martin,  Mary  E.  Nason, 
Isabella  B.  Tenney,  Fannie  Allen,  Ella  W.  Clark,  Ruth  H.  Faxon,  Emma 
A.  Hopkins,  Abby  A.  K.  i^oward,  Mary  A.  Willis,  Grace  W.  Fletcher. 
WasJiingtoii :  Daniel  Ma^field,  Hattie  T.  Nealley,  Lucy  A.  Downing, 
Adeline  M.  Ireson,  Emma  F.  Veazie,  Adeha  Dunham,  Ada  E.  Doe, 
Abbie'J.  Hodgkins,  Adelaide  A.  Keeler,  Dora  Puifer,  Abby  M.  Webb, 
Abbie  M.  Holder.  IVebsler :  John  D.  Billings,  Gertrude  E.  Hale,  Char- 
lotte M.  Chase,  Louise  C.  D.  Harlow,  Mary  E.  Towle,  Gertrude  A.  Hyde, 
Esther  F.  Hannum,  Susan  B.  Holmes,  Carrie  M.  Kingman,  Anna  S. 
Lamson,  Hattie  E.  Warfield,  Clara  E.  Matchett,  Emily  H.  Phinney,  Alice 
Gray. 

Primary  Schools.  —  Boardnian  :  Adah  W.  Baker,  Augusta  L.  Balch, 
Fannie  A.  Cooke,  S.  N.  Chamberlain,  Eliza  A.  Dow,  Mary  A.  Lewis, 
Sarah  E.  Stewart,  Nettie  Sargent.  Bridge:  Elizabeth  E.  Dallinger, 
Emily  C.  Dallinger.  City  :  Etta  S.  Adams,  Nellie  A.  Hutchins.  Dana  : 
Abby  A.   Lewis,  Maria  F.  Williams.     Dunster :  M.   Louise  Akerman, 


TEACHERS    IN    THE    PUBLIC    SCHOOLS.  1 25 

Mary  E.  Smallidge,  Sarah  B.  Waitt,  Susan  E.  Wyeth.  Felton :  Geor- 
gianna  L.  Backus,  Lizzie  C.  Capen,  Sarah  L.  Cutler,  Eliza  J.  Cutler, 
A.  M.  Houghton,  Ella  L.  Lynes.  Gannett :  Sarah  J.  A.  Davis,  Estelle 
J.  French,  Anna  M.  Jones,  Lottie  E.  Mitchell,  Lucy  C.  Wyeth.  Gore: 
Harriet  A.  Butler,  Addie  M.  Bettinson,  Mary  A.  Bourne,  Agnes  M.  Cox, 
Mary  E.  Hartwell,  Jennie  A.  Norris,  Frances  E.  Pendexter,  Alice  J. 
Winward.  Harvard :  Ellen  A.  Cheney,  Helen  M.  Ward,  Florence  M. 
Hayward.  Holmes:  Mary  L.  Bullard,  Eunice  W.  Field,  Louisa  G. 
Matchett,  Marianne  M.  Webb.  Mason:  M.  Lizzie  Evans,  Alma  A. 
Smith.  Otis ;  Martha  H.  Butler,  Luvia  Goodnow,  Annie  Knapp,  Ellen 
N.  Pike,  Carrie  H.  Smith,  Abby  S.  Taylor,  Lydia  A.  Whitcher,  Kate  F. 
Wellington.  Putnam :  Nellie  F.  Ball.  Qidncy :  T.  G.  Abercrombie, 
Charlotte  E.  Jewell,  Nellie  Johnson.  Reed :  Harriet  N.  Keyes,  Lucy 
T.  Sawyer,  Evelyn  A.  Sawyer,  Elizabeth  A.  Tower.  Sargent :  Mary  A. 
Brown,  M.  E.  Dickson,  Annie  M.  Harrod,  Frances  J.  Harrod.  Wil- 
lard:  Evelina  Brooks,  Fannie  E.  Cooke,  Susan  M.  Cochran,  H.  Flora 
Hannum,  Kate  M.  Lowell,  Mary  E.  Sawyer,  Mary  Ann  Tarbell,  Amelia 
Wright,  Laura  Wright,  Grace  R.  Woodward.  Wyman  :  Fannie  E.  M. 
Dennis,  Letitia  M.  Dennis,  M.  Carrie  Dickman,  Charlotte  A.  Ewell. 
Training  School:  Anna  C.  Sullivan,  M.  Etta  Arkerson,  Emma  B.  Alley, 
Jenny  Prescott,  Ella  C.  Whitney. 

Teacher  of  Singing.  —  Nathan  Lincoln. 
Superintendent  of  Schools.  —  Francis  Cogswell. 


CITY    OF    CAMBRIDGE. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    CATALOGUE 

FROM 

THE    ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    CITY    GOVERNMENT, 
In  1S46,  TO   1875. 


Mayor. 

City  Clerk. 

President 

OF   THE 

Common  Council. 

Clerk  of  the 
Common  Counol. 

Treasurer. 

1S46. 

James  D.  Green. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

Isaac  Livermore. 

Charles  S.  Newell. 

Abel  W.  Bruce. 

i?47. 

James  D.  Green. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  Sargent. 

Charles  S.  Newell. 

Abel  W.  Bruce. 

1848. 

Sidney  Willard. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  C.  Dodge. 

Charies  S.  Newell. 

Abel  W.  Bruce. 

1849. 

Sidney  Willard. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

.Samuel  P.  Heywood. 

Eben  M.  Dunbar. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

1850. 

Sidney  Willard. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

Samuel  P.  Heywood. 

Eben  M.  Dunbar. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

185 1. 

George  Stevens. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  S.  Ladd. 

Eben  M.  Dunbar. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

1852. 

George  Stevens. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  Sargent. 

Eben  M.  Dunbar. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

1853. 

James  D.  Green. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  Sargent. 

Eben  M.  Dunbar. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

1854- 

Abraham  Edwards. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

John  C.  Dodge. 

Henry  Thayer. 

Samuel  Slocomb. 

1855- 

Zebina  L.  Raymond. 

Lucius  R.  Paige. 

Alanson  Bigelow. 

Henry  Thayer. 

A.  J.  Webber. 

1856. 

John  Sargent. 

Henry  Thayer. 

George  S.  Saunders. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  A.  Holmes. 

1857. 

John  Sargent. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

George  S.  Saunders. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  A.  Holmes. 

1858. 

John  Sargent. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

James  C.  Fisk. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1859. 

John  Sargent. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

James  C.  Fisk. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

i860. 

James  D.  Green. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Hamlin  R.  Harding. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1861. 

James  D.  Green. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Hamlin  R.  Harding. 

James  M.  Chase. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1S62. 

Charles  Theo.  Russell. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Jared  Shepard. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1863. 

George  C.  Richardson. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

George  S.  Saunders. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1S64. 

Zebina  L.  Raymond. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

George  S-  Saunders. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1865. 

J.  Warren  Merrill. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

John  S.  March. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1866. 

J.  Warren  Merrill. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

John  S.  March. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  VVhitney. 

1867. 

Ezra  Parmenter. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Marshall  T.  Bigelow. 

Joseph  G.  Holt. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1868. 

Charles  H.  Saunders. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Heniy  W.  Muzzey. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1S69. 

Charles  H.  Saunders. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Henry  W.  Muzzey. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  W^hitney. 

1870. 

Hamlin  R.  Harding. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Joseph  H.  Converse. 

J.  VVarren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1871. 

Hamlin  R.  Harding. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Joseph  H.  Converse. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1872. 

Henry  O.  Houghton. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Alvaro  Blodgett. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1873. 

Isaac  Bradford. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

Alvaro  Blodgett. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1S74. 

Isaac  Bradford. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs. 

George  F.  Piper. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

1875. 

Isaac  Bradford. 

Justin  A.  Jacobs.' 

George  F.  Piper. 

J.  Warren  Cotton. 

Joseph  Whitney. 

CITY    OF    CAMBRIDGE. 


POLLS,    VALUATION,   AND    TAXES. 

1846. 

Polls,  3224.  Inhabitants,  12,500. 

Valuation  of  Real  Estate  "* $6,378,836.00 

Valuation  of  Personal  Estate 2,933,645.00 

Total  Valuation $9,312,481.00 

Rate  of  Taxation $5  on  $1000 

City  Tax  for   1846 $44,000 

1856. 

Polls,  4806.  Inhabitants,  20,473. 

Valuation  of  Real  Estate $12,467,950.00 

Valuation  of  Personal  Estate 5,570,700.00 

Total  Valuation $18,038,650.00 

Rate  of  Taxation $7.70  on  $1000 

City  Tax  for  1S56 $125,790.88 

1866. 

Polls,  7253.      Dwellings,  4591.      Inhabitants,  29,114. 

Valuation  of  Real  Estate $17,803,400.00 

Valuation  of  Personal  Estate 10,582,300.00 

Total  Valuation $28,385,700.00 

Rate  of  Taxation       $13.20  on  $1000 

City  Tax  for  1866 $293,562.40 

1875. 

Polls,  11,983.      Dwellings,  7676.      Inhabitants,  47,838. 

Valuation  of  Real  Estate $50,155,300.00 

Valuation  of  Personal  Estate 16,467,715.25 

Total  Valuation $66,623,015.25 

Rate  of  Taxation  $17  on  $1000 

Cily  Tax  for  1875 $1,011,000 


F 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


